A monthly update of the GTZ Jaffna Rehabilitation Project
June 1998
Ambassadors inaugurate
Thirunelveli pipeline
The Thirunelveli drinking water pipeline
is once again functional after a lapse of several years. The pipeline which
was badly damaged because of heavy fighting in the area, deprived citizens
of Jaffna and Gurunagar of their supply of safe drinking water.
The reconstructed Thirunelveli pipeline was recently inaugurated by the Ambassadors of Germany and the Netherlands to Sri Lanka at a simple ceremony at the Thirunelveli well field.
Previously water to the standposts in the Gurunagar area was supplied via the Jaffna Municipal Council wells which had to be transported daily by bowser. Now 1,583 families in the Gurunagar area will benefit from this continuous supply of water through 29 temporary standposts. Speaking on the occasion, the German Ambassador H.E. Mr.van Edig said, "The inauguration of the first phase of this project to the Gurunagar area of the JMC is one milestone in the development effort of the German government for the people of Jaffna".
However the overall rehabilitation of the Kondavil Well Field water supply line which fills the main tank, and rehabilitation of the water distribution system to the Gurunagar area will take the greater part of 1998 and is expected to be completed in early 1999.
Mr. Balasingham speaking on behalf of the Jaffna Municipal Council thanked the German government and the GTZ for their assistance in this project, further reiterating that he hopes the assistance will be continued and if possible increased to cover the areas originally supplied by the Jaffna Municipal Council.
The German Ambassador to Sri Lanka H.E. Mr. van Edig, the Netherlands Ambassador to Sri Lanka H.E. Mr. Princen, Jaffna Municipal Commissioner Mr. Balasingham and the Deputy Commissioner and GTZ representatives attended the inauguration meeting among several others.
ECHO Project Review
The ECHO project of rehabilitating the rural water supply to the people of Jaffna, faced many obstacles during the implementation stage.
Of these, the main setback has been the constant shortage of cement in Jaffna and of course an unstable ground situation. Amidst these limitations the GTZ staff and engineers of the Water Board have laboured with the project to bring it to its current position.
The project is scheduled to come to an end by mid July 1998. However, the final material supplies are scheduled to arrive in Jaffna during the course of this month (June). Therefore the management is considering the possibility of applying for an extension of the project for an additional three (3) months.
Damaged school
building gets a new face.
The first phase of the school rehabilitation
programme of St.Anthony’s Girls School Pasiyoor was completed recently.
The rehabilitated two storey building has been constructed to house class
rooms on the ground floor with an auditorium on the upper floor.
The new building was declared open on the 15th of May at a simple ceremony attended by the Principal, Catholic Priest, the School Works Engineer - Mr. Sivapalan , GTZ representatives along with pupils and their parents.
Speaking on the occasion GTZ Consultant Mr. Bruno Wamsler thanked the SDS and the SWD for the team effort they provided by working along side the GTZ personnel to accomplish this task. The next phase of the project will be to fully reconstruct the totally damaged Home Science block.
Grant to rehabilitate
water supply schemes
A British grant of Rs.7,789,000/-
has been provided to rehabilitate the Kodikamam and Kapoothu water supply
schemes.
Currently people do not have easy
access to clean drinking water, and have to travel more than 3 kilometres
in search of suitable water. It is estimated that more than 200 families
will benefit from this project, once the Kodikamam & Kapoothu water
supply schemes are rehabilitated.
Moolai Hospital Maternity ward inaugurated
Mr. Martin Dawson - 1st Secretary to
the British High Commissioner and Ms. Janine van Krimpen - 1st Secretary
to the Dutch Ambassador inaugurated the Moolai Hospital Maternity ward
on Thursday 14th May 1998.
The reconstruction work was made possible through a financial grant of Rs.1,256,000/- provided by the British High Commission. However work was carried out under the supervision of the German Technical Co-operation Jaffna Rehabilitation Project.
The Moolai Hospital Board of Management was also present on this occasion.
