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17th October, 2004  Volume 11, Issue 14

First with the news and free with its views                                     First with the news and free with its views                             First with the news and free with its views                                    

Focus

JVP knee deep in tank controversy

The site of the JVP's elaborate opening ceremony
of the 10,000 tanks project, the Havanpellessa tank 
in Yapahuwa left abandoned aft r the tamasha

By Mark Indika Samarasekera 

There is an old saying that even if money is being thrown in to the sea, it should be accounted for. Today, funds from the Treasury are not so easily dispensed with, but the recent turn of events indicate that for the JVP's 10,000 tanks project, state monies are being utilised outside of the standard tender and estimate procedure.

For a country whose rural economy is largely agriculture based, the importance of an extensive irrigation system cannot be overstressed. In Sri Lanka there are currently 27,000 tanks that provide the necessary water for agricultural purposes. The JVP's plan to renovate and rehabilitate 10,000 of these tanks is certainly a noble one and such a contribution will be priceless for the agricultural sector in the years to come. Unfortunately, the current state of affairs with regard to the project leaves much to be desired. The transparency of the project has in fact come under fire by no less than the Head of State, President Chandrika Kumaratunga herself.

Irregularities

To begin with, the renovation of small tanks in a specific area falls within the jurisdiction of the relevant provincial council. But in the case of the 10,000 tanks project, Irrigation Minister, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has taken the matter into his own hands, cutting the provincial councils totally out of the picture.

Secondly, the process of calling for tenders and awarding contracts to construct canals and waterways is officially the right of the farmers' committees in each area. In rural areas, it is these agricultural societies that work purely for the development of the agriculture sector without political bias and the government recognises them as legitimate bodies. However, according to Minister Dissanayake and other officials responsible for agricultural development in the country,  these farmers' societies are archaic and inefficient bodies. Therefore in place of farmers' societies, Minister Dissanayake and other officials designed the 'tank committees' instead.

Today, despite what may have become of the 10,000 tanks programme, thousands of these 'tank committees' have come into being largely comprised of members of the JVP's youth wing. Because of these actions of the JVP those making decisions about agriculture at the village level today are no longer villagers with immense farming experience but red-capped activists spouting Marxism instead. The result of these policies will no doubt become public knowledge even in urban areas in the near future. In an attempt to legitimise the 'tank committees,' moves have been made to transfer two officials from the state recognised farmers' committees to each tank committee.

Technical aspect neglected

Another area of the irrigation scheme that is being neglected is the technical aspect. The construction of a proper tank involves the correct measurements of bunds, canals and waterways lest the collection and distribution of water does not take place in the proper way. Therefore, technical reports are an important part of such renovation projects. However, none of these procedures are being followed by the JVP Minister in this instance. The argument appears to be that if the job is being done 'properly,' there is no need to follow tender and other procedures. If JVP Ministers have the gall to discard the 121 page document detailing the government tender procedure guidelines, it is surely only a matter of time till the Penal Code and constitution of the country are meted out  similar treatment.

"The tender procedure changes according to the amount of money"
- Deputy Director General, National Budget, Finance Ministry, Lalith de Silva;

"The government tender procedure is a very detailed document. The tender procedure changes according to the size of the project and the estimate standards. Usually, if the project estimate is under Rs. 100,000 tenders can be called according to the institution regulations, but if the amount exceeds Rs. 10 million it has to be approved by the cabinet of ministers. For the sum of about Rs. 2 million, tender decisions can be made at ministry level. If we are to take the 10,000 tank project, the tender procedure changes according to the size and specifications of each tank.

"Sometimes, technical committee reports become necessary. How these committees should be set up and function is also laid out in the tender procedure.

"If the tender procedure is not going to be followed at a specific point, then what happens there also is decided based on the size and money required for the project. It is difficult to answer without knowing the exact nature and size of the project."

"The farming committees have been the sacrificial lambs to get the funds passed for this project"
- Former Irrigation and Water Management Minister, Gamini Jayewickrema Perera;

"After the great kings of Sri Lanka constructed tanks and irrigation schemes in the county, it was D. S. Senanayake who breathed new life into the irrigation system with the construction of tanks like Kaudulla and Girithale. The United National Party has always had a policy of tank renovation and even when you go into villages today you can see the results of these schemes.

"Water is a life giving and precious resource. In the dry zone of this country it is nature's most precious gift. But what is happening today is that instead of understanding this, various committees are being set up in the name of irrigation to carry forward political agendas.

"A few months  ago, when I was Minister of Irrigation and I attempted to repair some of the Mahaweli machinery and erect a new tank, President Kumaratunga opposed my idea and told me not to go ahead with it without involving the provincial councils. We accepted that and even today, her stance on this matter is correct.

"These tank committees have no legal basis whatsoever. They use the farming committees which are recognised by the state to get their funds passed but then the farming committees don't have a clue as to what becomes of the money. Soon, these committees will have to answer to the law as to what became of the monies.

"Without following tender procedure, today officials are going ahead with the construction work on tanks with equipment obtained from the private sector. They don't obtain engineering or technical advice. It is important to get proper advice from experienced engineers during the renovation process. But since these people seem to know it all, they don't need specialists' input. If this continues, the people will curse them when they are left without water during the next drought.

"Whether the tender system is followed or not, those who want to steal will do it anyway" 
- Agriculture, Lands, Irrigation, Animal Products, Health and Tourism Minister, Western Provincial Council, Hector Bethmage;

"Usually tanks smaller than 200 acres have to be renovated by the provincial councils while the bigger tanks come under the jurisdiction of the central government. That is what the 13th Amendment stipulates. However, if tanks are going to be constructed the proper way, it doesn't matter whether the provincial council does it or the central government does it. As long as the people benefit from it.

"Under Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake's 10,000 tanks project, some tanks in the Western Province are also being renovated. I have been involved with the Minister on this matter.

"There are some elements trying to make out that there is a conflict between the provincial councils and the central government about the tank project. But I don't think we need to become the pawns of that game.

"When contracts are awarded to build tanks, on some occasions tenders are called, on others they are not called. What I think is that whether tenders are called or not, those who want to steal will steal anyway. There are instances when one person sends tenders in seven or eight different names with various amounts and then is awarded one. That's how the tender system works in this country, so whether tenders are called or not, it makes no difference.

"The most important thing is not whether tenders are called or not, but that the project work continues without allegations of corruption. And I think we are proceeding well."

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