Are Water Resources Sufficient to Support the Proposed Development in the Northern Province?

Abstract

After more than 30 years of armed conflict the Northern Province is on its path of development. Under the massive development programme of the North namely ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ development of infrastructure, resettlement, development of agriculture and other livelihoods are being done at an accelerated rate. One of the major drivers in development is water as it is required for all life activities including consumption and other life activities for living beings, farming, fisheries, industries etc. The quantity and quality of water are equally important. According to the National Water Use Master Plan which is still under preparation, the estimated water demand for the Northern Province for 2025 is 4.6 mcm/day of which 3.3 mcm/day will be required for the urban population. The paper describes the availability and potential of both surface and ground water resources in the districts of the Northern Province i.e. Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mulativu, Mannar and Vavuniya. It also highlights the issues of water with regard to quality, quantity and unsustainable development. The planned and existing water supply schemes are described with their ability to provide the required water. The paper also brings to the notice the existing strategies already in place (i.e. ISEA) and ones that can be adopted towards making the proposed development sustainable in the context of water.