An Investigation into the problems faced by resettled communities in Yan oya reservoir development project in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This research is based on resettled communities who were resettled due to „Yan Oya‟ Irrigation Project in Eastern Sri Lanka which was completed in 2018.The problem was, „what are the socio-economic problems faced by resettled communities, who were resettled due to „Yan Oya‟ Irrigation project Hence,

the aim of this study explores the socio-economic problems of the resettled communities of Yan Oya Reservoir Development Project (YORDP) and focuses on the identification different problems of the resettled communities .

A comprehensive literature was conducted to acquire knowledge on characteristics of development projects, irrigation projects, concept, theories, relocation process, reasons for relocation, proper relocation, facilities for relocations area, importance to livelihood, involvement party for relocation process, effect for health and safety for resettled people, environmental effect and type of compensation on YORDP.

To understand problems of resettled people on YORDP, data was collected from the people who had been relocated to Malporuwa,Omarakada ,Kajuwatta and Wahalkada areas in Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka as result of YORDP. The research was carried out adopting quantitative research approach and the data collection was done through questionnaire survey. The questionnaires were distributed by hand among the resettled communities.

Relative Importance Index (RII) method was used to analyse the problems of the resettled communities on YORDP in Sri Lanka. Based on results, 11 problems were identified as low and very low impacted problems, 15 problems were identified as moderate impacted problems and 9 problems were identified as highly and very highly impacted problems for the resettled communities. Among those problems are seasonal flood in relocated areas, lack of involvement by government supply the drinking water, destruction of paddy cultivation by wild life, inadequate compensation for loosed paddy lands, received land area inadequate for cultivation, less income from paddy land and less income form chena lands can be identified as the highly and very highly impacted problems of the resettled communities. In the recommendation, taking necessary measures to control floods, reimbursement of reasonable compensation for lost property, controlling wild life migration, enhancement of livelihood and establish ways to meet the drinking water requirement of the resettled communities are identified as major actions.