Project Detail

Provision of water through construction of a small scale reservoir and a canal system in Siriyagama

The village Siriyagama is located in the buffer zone of the Bundala National Park, which is also a part of the Bundala Ramsar site and the Bunala Man and Biosphere site. The main issue the villagers are facing is the lack of adequate water to grow crops throughout the year in their one-acre block of land. According to the villagers and community leaders a good solution to overcome this problem is to dig a channel to divert the excess water of Baminiyawa tank before it reaches Uraniya tank located near the village. The CBO (Praja Jala Kalamanakarana Samithiya), with the consent from the villagers will cut a channel which will run parallel to the main road within the lands of the villagers and the excess water will be stored in a small tank which is presently a gravel pit. This newly constructed tank will also store rainwater and can be also used popularize inland fishery activities.
The project is being carried out with the cooperation of the local Irrigation Department who controls the water levels at Weerawila tank, which supply the water to Baminiyawa tank.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Praja Jala Kalamanakarana Samithiya

Country:

Sri lanka

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 4

Grant Amount:

US$ 24,750.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 5,556.00

Project Number:

CWI/SRL/07/05

Start Date:

12/2007

End Date:

12/2008

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Earlier the efforts to supplement their low incomes through cultivation of utility crops had little or no success due to lack of water With access to water from the new canal the villagers are now effectively applying organic methods and practices to develop their home gardens which have utility crops like coconut, plantains and marketable fruits Overall they expect a significant improvement in their food security and income from agriculture

Linkages gef projects

The project was funded by the Global Environment Facility/ Small Grants program (GEF/SGP) UNDP

Gender Focus

The women of the households can save their time and energy using this canal water running through their backyards to water their plants and vegetation and for other domestic purposes like washing of clothes and cooking vessels .without having to walk for miles to fetch water as they did in the past..

Notable Community Participation

This project was successful in getting the community to have a sense of ownership in the project by involving them in the key activities ie. widening and deepening of the gravel pit and construction of culverts on a ?shramadana? basis (voluntary labour). Also the supply and management of this new canal water system is vested in the executive committee of the Praja Jala Kalamanakarana Samithiya (Community water management society)

Capacity - Building Component

Through their involvement in the key activities related to canal construction under supervision of technical officers from the irrigation department they developed knowledge and practical experience in construction of culverts .Also the people working on the executive committee of the Praja Jala Kalamanakarana Samithiya (Community water management society) who were put in charge of supply and management of this new canal water system got the opportunity to learn about these maters

Project sustainability

the project has been successful in getting the advice and guidance of the Irrigation engineers of the area who undertook the overall supervision of the project Getting the Irrigation Department involved in this helps towards state accountability and the future sustainability of he project.

Project Results

Some villagers have already cultivated crops using the water from the canal and have reaped a good harvest. The farmer who, despite being located at the tail end of the canal, has had access to adequate water to successfully cultivate and harvest a good crop of water melons and earn Rs 25000/- by selling it at village fair. He was able to grow only green grams in the past as it required less water but that too had not been a sure crop. The villagers are also effectively applying organic methods and practices to develop their home gardens which have utility crops like coconut, plantains and marketable fruits. Overall they expect a significant improvement in their food security and income from agriculture. Another significant change that can be attributed to the project is the improved water table as a result of the ground water recharge actions and the enrichment of the dry land due to improved vegetation
The women of the households can save their time and energy using this canal water running through their backyards to water their plants and vegetation and for other domestic purposes like washing of clothes and cooking vessels without having to walk for miles to fetch water. As they did in the past

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