The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows.

¶ 02 (a) (i) This project is expected to provide drinking water to the people in 167 Grama Niladhari divisions located within five DS Divisions in Kurunegala District: Polgahawela, Alawwa, Kurunegala, Mallawapitiya, and Weerambugedara. Details of the GN divisions are submitted as an annex and placed in the Library.

¶ 03 (ii) Within the Polgahawela DS area, the GN divisions of Ahugoda East, Ihala Udapola, Mawatha, and Meda Ahugoda are not covered by this scheme.

¶ 04 (iii) The project is designed to fully cover 167 GN divisions of the five DS divisions by the year 2037. Accordingly, as per the plans, the people living in elevated areas of the listed GN divisions in the Polgahawela DS Division will also be provided safe piped water. Therefore, apart from the GN divisions not included in the design, the remaining divisions will receive water under the project.

¶ 05 (iv) The four GN divisions at the boundary of the Polgahawela DS Division are not recommended under the project’s technical criteria. Alternative arrangements are being planned for those areas; I will present details in due course.

¶ 06 (v) No.

¶ 07 (vi) Not applicable.

¶ 08 (b) (i) The 2025 Budget allocation is to settle certified interim payment bills due to the contractor and to complete the remaining distribution pipeline works in the Pothuhera and Boyagane distribution zones.

¶ 09 (ii) In fact, the 2025 allocation will not resolve the matter immediately. However, the integrated Polgahawela–Pothuhera–Alawwa scheme is expected to provide uninterrupted water by 2037 to all planned areas of the Polgahawela DS Division.

¶ 10 (iii) Yes.

¶ 11 (iv) The project components including water intake, water treatment plant, transmission system to Alawwa and Polgahawela zones, reservoirs and distribution networks are being progressively taken over—about 80%—by the NWSDB to continue the related works. As I stated, by 2037 the integrated scheme will deliver continuous supply. Under financial constraints, the distribution length originally designed at 320 km was reduced to 182 km. Accordingly, the NWSDB is presently undertaking the related construction for the extended distribution system where essential. In addition, the Board is conducting a detailed study to provide drinking water to high elevation locations within the scheme area—currently covering 64 GN divisions. Upon finalizing the plans and securing necessary funds, implementation will proceed.

¶ 12 (v) Only the Sewwendana GN division of Weerambugedara DS is included in this project scope. The other areas of Weerambugedara are to be covered by the Weerambugedara Water Supply Scheme, and also by the Giriulla, Dambadeniya, and Narammala water schemes.

¶ 13 (c) Not applicable.