Chinese built North Central Province Canal Project to boost agri sector
With the Agriculture sector driving Sri Lanka’s GDP, the 28 km-long North Central Province Canal (tunnel) Project (NCPCP) which stretches from Elahera Konduruwewa to Palugaswewa Mahamigaswewa will give a major boost to the sector.
The 28 km-long irrigation tunnel which is Sri Lanka’s longest irrigation tunnel is being constructed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd (CSCEC) and was inaugurated in February 2021. Construction is estimated to cost 244 million U.S. dollars and is financed by the Sri Lankan government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The project is planned as a part of the North Central Province Maha Ela Project to divert excess water from the Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga reservoir. The tunnel would help mitigate droughts and floods while providing water for agriculture. No stone has been left unturned by the Chinese engineers to make the project a success and one could see their engineers living in specially constructed temporary housing units and some are seen even working over 20 hours a day. The project is also carefully planned to minimize the environmental impact as it passes through three wildlife sanctuaries.
As per the recommendation of the Environment Impact Assessment Report approved for the North-central Province Canal Project, is also aiming at reforestation and enrichment planting of 500 ha in the project impact areas in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts. This was initiated with 100 ha in 2022 by planting indigenous species 50 ha each in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts respectively.
It is planned to continue and complete the entire 100 ha of reforestation and enrichment planting program with the onset of monsoon rains. The maintenance of the area up to the year 2024 would be done by CSCEC till the end of 2024. In addition, great care has also been taken by CSCEC towards the protection of endangered species of fish through scientific research.
“We launched a reforestation activity at the North Central Province Canal Project NCPCP at the beginning of this year to breathe new life into our ecosystems, fostering biodiversity and resilience. Now, two main projects are ongoing in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts with apparent progress. Construction of fire belts, removing invasive species, land preparation, weeding, fertilization, pest control & watering over 10,000 plants have been completed already in those areas.
Economic benefits to villagers
Special steps have been taken to provide economic benefits of the project to the community and over 600 youths have been provided employment.
A total number of 49 endemic animals were rescued from NCPCP-5 area and a total of 10 endemic animals were rescued from NCPCP-5 area during the initial stages of the project. “In addition to getting around Rs. 2,200 take home pay, the skill training they receive will qualify them to work anywhere in the world,” a Chinese official from CSCEC. In a bid to minimize the communication gaps, Chinese to English and Sinhala translators too were hired and are currently deployed in the site. He said that during the time of the COVID pandemic construction stopped but the management paid the full salaries to the employees.
“The nearby temples and the Madawela school also received many benefits from the CSCEC’s CSR initiatives,” said Chief Incumbent of Sri Kettharamaya Mahamigas wewa Venerable Laksirigama Nandasiri. “They have provided school books and other education requirements of the school and have also assisted the nearby temples in numerous ways. These CSR initiatives will continue in the future too, ” the Chinese official from CSCEC said. One of the most admirable initiatives launched by CSCEC was the construction of the Elephant electric fence which not only saved several lives of villages from the wild elephants but created an environment where people could carry on their day to day activities without fear.
“The construction of the Elephant Fence also helped to increase Agro productivity in the area and crop damages were minimized due to elephants invading the farm lands.”
Recently, the main concrete bridge of Aththanakadawala village, which is located in Kanduruwawa, Polonnaruwa, was successfully completed and opened to traffic as a part of this project. In November this year the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to initiate the excavation from the southern end of a 28 km long underground tunnel was launched at the construction site at Konduruwawa in Elahera.
The excavation of the extensive 28 km tunnel is now underway simultaneously from both the northern and southern ends, with the first TBM having already completed approximately 4 km of excavation from the northern portal. The launching of the second TBM aims to expedite the construction process, aligning with the project’s set targets.
This milestone underscores a significant step forward in the progress of the North Central Province Canal Project. Rail tracks and two train engines are also deployed to speed up the construction work of the project.
ATC Australia publishes NCPCP research
The 18th Australian Tunneling Conference (#ATC) was held in Auckland in November and the English tech paper submitted by the North Central Province Canal Project (NCPCP), titled “Short launch of TBM to overcome economic and logistic difficulties in Sri Lanka,” was included and published.
It is reported that the conference has a history of over 50 years, attracting numerous tunnel clients, consulting contractors, and suppliers from around the world. It plays a crucial role in leading the international tunneling technology development and promoting industry exchanges.
In addition, the project also entertains regular visits by various schools, engineers, study groups to visit the project and get a first account of the development work that is being carried out.
“Recently, a team of 30 teachers and students from Mahameegaswewa Primary School, located about 500 meters away from CSCEC’s North Central Province Canal Project, paid a visit to the project and completed a special scientific class.”
“The modern TBM monitoring room, efficient segment production factory, and TBM start shaft impressed them, helping them learn a lot.”
CSCEC values the development opportunities in Sri Lanka and devotes itself to Sri Lanka’s economic development. With the world’s leading management advantages, professional technology and high quality talent team, CSCEC is dedicated to delivering high-quality products, providing customers with excellent services, helping to improve infrastructure conditions and the improvement of people’s livelihood, and creating long-term value for all stakeholders.
The CSSEC project constructed under this vision when completed will solve the main issue of lack of water for the agro sector and households and will also provide several other facilities to the public.
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