Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said that the construction of the North Central Main Canal will commence on 05 February, in addition to the rehabilitation of 1,000 irrigation tanks in rural areas. He was speaking at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department today (01). The Minister said that the Irrigation Prosperity Programme, which will be implemented as a national programme from this year, is the first task of implementing the President's "Saubhagya Dakma" Policy Statement and that agriculture will play a pivotal role in the task of eradicating poverty. The Minister said that agriculture could not be done without water and that although every government has implemented major irrigation schemes, the poverty of the people has not been eradicated. “Therefore, Rs. 45 billion has been allocated from this year's budget for the development of major irrigation and rural tanks as well as for the uplifting of the irrigation industry,” the Minister said.