The District Planning Committee, which functions as a subcommittee under the District Coordinating Committee, met yesterday (01) at the Auditorium of the Kegalle District Secretariat.
The District Planning Committee meets once a month with several objectives, including the identification of development proposals. A number of important matters were discussed at this meeting.
At present, a total of 1,177 projects are being implemented under the Kegalle District Secretariat for this year. Special attention was paid to the progress of decentralized budget programmes, Praja Shakthi programmes, estate infrastructure development projects, rural road projects and rural bridge projects. Discussions were also held on identifying the issues affecting the progress of these projects and taking necessary measures to raise the overall project progress to 60%.
The construction of houses for disaster-affected families in the Kegalle District was also discussed. The progress of compensation payments for houses located in high-risk areas and completely damaged houses was reviewed.
The progress of the first and second phases of the Aswesuma programme, Samurdhi programmes, district-level agricultural activities and the District Disaster Management Division was also reviewed.
Under the four-year strategic development programme for the Kegalle District, committees covering eight key sectors have already been established. These committees are currently engaged in preparing necessary proposals and conducting relevant discussions, and their current progress was also reviewed at the meeting.
Approval has now been granted for the concept proposal relating to the development of the Kegalle Central Bus Stand and the Kegalle City Centre Urban Park Development Plan, which are being implemented by the Urban Development Authority.
Eight projects are being implemented this year under the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. Of these, three projects have already been fully completed, while two projects have reached a progress level of 50%. Matters relating to the proposed Yatimahana Reservoir Project were also discussed. The project is expected to benefit approximately one million families.
The Rubber Development Department has been implementing a programme since June this year to rehabilitate mature rubber plantations that have been abandoned and are no longer being tapped. It was stated that applications have already been submitted covering more than 100 hectares.
As rubber tapping remains at a low level due to the rainfall experienced in the Kegalle District for most of the year, attention was also focused on making the necessary arrangements to promote rubber tapping through the use of rain guards.
Meanwhile, the National Coconut Day celebration is being held today with the objective of establishing 250 coconut villages across the island within three years. The Kegalle District-level celebration is scheduled to commence today in the Warakapola Divisional Secretariat Division.
In addition to the above matters, the progress of the various institutions and government departments operating within the district was reviewed at the meeting.
Special attention was given to the need for further follow-up on sectors where project progress remains low, as well as to expediting the resettlement process.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, members of the political authority of the district, Chief Secretary of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council J. M. U. K. Jayasekara, Kegalle District Secretary K. G. S. Nishantha, District Planning Director Indika Senarathna, Divisional Secretaries, government officials and a number of other representatives.
