Trinco development projects to cost Rs.359 million

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 April 2003, 00:57 GMT]
The political division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) submitted twenty-four project proposals for the development of Trincomalee district to the Secretariat for Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in Northeast (SIHRN), sources said. The total cost of the projects is estimated to be 359 million rupees.

The Trincomalee district Government Agent (GA) Mr.N.H.K.Nelumdeniya has approved the project proposals, sources said.

The projects cover fisheries, irrigation sector, road development, industrial sector spanning meat, fruit and food processing, human skills development and loan schemes for local entrepreneurs.

Four ice plants are to be constructed in Ilankathurai in Eachilampathu divisional secretariat (DS) division, Salli in Trincomalee DS division, Navalady in Muttur DS division, and Kuchchaveli in Kuchchaveli DS division at an estimated cost of 10 million rupees each. More than forty thousand people in these areas will benefit directly from these ice plants, sources said.

Two hundred outboard mechanized boats and gears will be distributed to fishermen at Kadatkaraichcenai, Sampoor in Muttur division, Verugal and Ilankathurai in Eachilampathu division, Kuchchaveli in Kuchchaveli division, Salli in Trincomalee division, Thampalakamam in Thampalakamam division, and Alankerni in Kinniya division at an estimated cost of 65 million rupees. Around 1200 fisher families will be benefit from the additional fishing equipment, sources said.

Under the irrigation sector, four tanks- Ethanadamurippu tank in Kuchchaveli division, Kunchadappankulam and Echchankulam in Sampoor, Muttur division and Kalkidangukulam in Kanniya, Trincomalee DS division are to be rehabilitated at a cost of about 67 million rupees. The beneficiaries will be around 230 families, according to the project proposals.

Under the road development sector, 12.5 km long Foul point road in Muttur DS division will be improved at a cost of 30 million rupees. Improvements to Thoppur, Kaddaiparichan, and Idemanthurai in Muttur DS division will be made at a cost 30 million rupees. LB channel road, Kallar and Dehiwatte junctions in Seruvila division will be developed at a cost 19 million rupees. Improvements to Kuchchaveli-Kallampathai road in Kuchchaveli division will be made at a cost 16 million rupees.

Under the industrial development sector food, fruit and meat processing units will be established in divisional secretariat divisions of Trincomalee, Kinniya, Muttur, Thampalakamam, Kuchchaveli and Eachilampathu at a cost of ten million rupees. About five hundred units of women headed families are expected to benefit from this project.

The Nilaveli saltern, which is in abandoned state following displacement of villagers due to the war, is to be rehabilitated and modernized under the SIHRN project at an estimated cost of ten million rupees, sources said.

Multi-skill development centres will be established in all divisional secretariat divisions in the Trincomalee district at an estimated cost 10 million rupees providing training to 1200 young men and women a year, sources said.

To assist local entrepreneurs and also to revive small and medium industries Soft Loan Credit Fund will be established in all DS divisions in the Trincomalee district at an estimated cost of 50 million rupees, sources said.

All development proposals would be implemented within a year, according the submitted plans.