Abandoned gem pits and the glitter of graft

By Sujeewa Edirisinghe

The lure of the glittering lucre, it appears, has made gem mining in Ratnapura a filthy affair.Residents say gem miners pay scant respect to environmental laws or industry regulations when they abandon their pits.

These pits had become breeding places for mosquitoes, they said.Regulations governing gem mining demand that a pit be closed after mining is completed. They also say permits would not be granted for the opening of another mine unless the previous mine is properly closed.

An abandoned gem pit: A breeding place for mosquitoes and death trap for domestic animals

They also say that during the excavation, care must be exercised to ensure that waste earth is dumped in the place prescribed in the application.

But residents say the rules are observed in the breach and all waste earth is dumped in rivers and miners manage to get new permits although they do not care to fill up the mines with waste earth and close them.

“Besides the mosquito menace, there have been instances of stray cattle and dogs falling into the uncovered pits. We have taken up with the area politicians, but little or no action is taken,” one resident said.

He said the normal procedure was for an officer from the Gem Authority to visit the old mine to confirm that it had been closed properly before the permit for the new one was issued. “But what is baffling is that the old mines remain open and permits are issued for new ones,” he said.

“All that glitters in this city of gem is corruption.”

Residents also say the new environmental affairs minister should make a visit to the area to assess the situation.