Drinking water from Iranaimadu to Jaffna Will Ruin paddy cultivation in Kilinochchi

An Open letter to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa

"Eighty percent of the people of Kilinochchi depend on paddy cultivation and majority of them come under Iranaimadu Tank. Over 30,000 acres are cultivated under Iranaimadu during Maha Season and it so happens that at the tail end of their cultivation if the rains fail it is the Iranaimadu that saves the crops, by giving the crops a couple of feeds to help the crops to mature before harvesting."

by V. Anandasangaree

(October 12, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The paddy cultivators of Kilinochchi, predominantly colonists, are highly perturbed over the Government taking steps to tap Iranaimadu water for drinking purposes in to the Jaffna District and Poonakari area. I strongly urge that you should suspend work on this project and before taking a decision have this matter fully discussed, with the concerned parties and experts. Being fully aware of the situation, I have a duty to advice you on this matter. I recollect those days in the sixties how we fought hard for increased water rights for the colonists. I am strongly of the view that this move will completely ruin paddy cultivation in areas that are fed from the Iranaimadu Tank and the country will face many more problems. Eighty percent of the people of Kilinochchi depend on paddy cultivation and majority of them come under Iranaimadu Tank. Over 30,000 acres are cultivated under Iranaimadu during Maha Season and it so happens that at the tail end of their cultivation if the rains fail it is the Iranaimadu that saves the crops, by giving the crops a couple of feeds to help the crops to mature before harvesting. During the Yala (serupokem) cultivation of paddy is restricted to a certain area with limited acres for cultivation and the land owners could transfer their water rights to cultivate in another’s land. This is how the cultivation under Iranaimadu Tank takes place. You can very well understand the situation. At times the tank goes dry. When the crops die for want water, you will have to decide whether to look after the people or to save the crops. Please accept this as an ill-conceived plan that needs reconsideration.

If Your Excellency want to see the Jaffna Peninsula flourish, please implement the Jaffna Lagoon scheme of the late Arunachalam Mahadeva who mooted it in 1947. Constructing three regulators, one at Chundikulam and two others at Thondaimanaru and Navatkuli respectively. Cut a channel to link the Elephantpass lagoon with the Vadamarachchi lagoon, a distance of four to five miles. This scheme was abandoned due to short of funds. The amount required is just the cost of cutting the channel.

This scheme works thus. The three regulators will be kept closed during the rainy season. The excess water discharged from the Iranaimadu Tank falls into the Elephant pass lagoon and through the channel reaches the Vadamarachchi lagoon and spreads all over the Jaffna Peninsula and when the flow is towards the sea the regulators are opened to let the water fall into the sea at all these three points. If this process is repeated for a period of eight to ten years, all lands in the peninsula that lay baron could be reclaimed as fit for cultivation and the salinity of the water also will change into pure drinking water. Thus entire peninsula will be suitable for cultivation, the wells too will get recharged. As a layman this is how I understand the scheme. To complete this scheme you need only a small sum only to cut the channel of about 5 miles and to construct the dam or anicut at Chundikulam. The other two are either completed or in the process of getting completed.

This was revised by late Mr. S. Arumugam Senior Deputy Director of Irrigation, Who named it as “A river for Jaffna”. Mr. D.L.O. Mendis who worked with Mr. Arumugam is now the best authority to advice the Government on this matter. Please drop the idea of taking water from Iranimadu and implement Mr. Arumugam’s proposal in consultation with the experts including Mr. Mendis.