Sri Lanka was once known as one of the finest hydraulic civilizations of the world with ancient Kings creating clusters of sophisticated tank networks which were then connected through canals to larger reservoirs to collect and redistribute rain water, replenish the earth as well as balance the needs of the entire eco system. To a country where 80 per cent of the land is a dry zone prone to water scarcity these tanks were life, itself. However, with time, tanks have fallen into disrepair as the knowledge and know how of their upkeep among villagers have dwindled while other tanks and their systems became casualties of the long drawn war.
As the country recovered from this negative impacts, climate change and haphazard weather patterns have now made these efforts more challenging.
As a result, the current drought spell too has caused severe negative effects, leaving many needing assistance with no signs of rains in the near future.
However, due to the efforts of the Government’s Disaster Management Centre along with the United Nations Development Project, some villagers in drought stricken areas continue to maintain their livelihoods even in these harsh conditions.
A farseeing project initiated in 2014, with the intention of increasing the resilience of local communities to climate change-induced hazards through integration of climate-smart policies, including the reconstruction and rehabilitation programs have seen the rehabilitation of 34 ancient water tanks, while re-introducing ancient features which have long been forgotten, while upgrading and adapting them to modern day needs.
The project saw the rehabilitation of 34 minor irrigation tanks in Mahananneriya cascade in the Mee Oya river basin, in the North Western Province which in turn provided water to over 18,000 people in the area for agriculture and domestic purposes while it also increased the farmed agricultural areas by 20 per cent.
With the culmination of the project in 2016 many villages which were part of its first stage and the upper catchment area are said to be maintaining their livelihood despite the severe drought being experienced, according to the National Disaster Management Centre.
Previously, highlighting the importance of climate change adaptations, UNDP Project Manager and the Technical Coordinator, Sampath Abeyratne said, with temperature in Sri Lanka increasing and no change in rainfall, and the weather pattern changing, causing high intensity rainfall within short periods of time as well as, long drought periods, it was necessary to provide technical and financial support to safeguard the investments in uplifting the rural livelihoods against climate related disasters and environmental changes by addressing the climate-related problems, such as, drought, floods and landslides.
With this project being hailed as a success, it is perhaps time to further look into reviving and rehabilitating tanks which were once considered the source of life for the ancient Sri Lankan civilizations to face future droughts and food shortages as experienced today.