MAHAWELI COMPLEX

Mahaweli Complex is the largest Power Complex in the Generation Division having Generating capacity of 916.7MWh. This Power Complex generates approximately 2500GWh annually... Before development most of the project area was virtually unpopulated, but population pressure from the wet zone (southwest and central highlands) was leading to increased immigration, with associated shifting cultivation. The project involved jungle clearing, land leveling, and on-farm development over a gross area of about 31,000 ha, and settlement of a projected 18,500 families each with 1 ha of irrigated land and a 0.2 ha homestead plot, as well as 5,500 nonfarming families, also with homestead plots. The project also provided for fuelwood (3,000 ha) and cashew plantations (2,000 ha). The Mahaweli Authority provided support services such as extension, marketed inputs and outputs, and operated and maintained the irrigation system. It installed roads, urban centers, and social infrastructure including schools.

Primary location: Kandy Sri Lanka