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Temporary structures for event no harm to environment: CCD
View(s):Serious concerns of nature activists that large amounts of soil were dumped on the Trincomalee beach to build the platform for the Independence Day celebrations on February 4 were refuted by many high-ranking officials on Thursday.
This is a temporary structure and there has been no harm to the environment, said Coast Conservation Department (CCD) Director-General Dr. Anil Premaratne, pointing out that the area is not on the beach but adjacent to it.
He said all relevant institutions met to decide on the arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations as it is a national event, adding he has inspected the area personally. Explaining that the coastal zone of the country comes under the purview of the CCD, he said the land in different areas may be owned either by the state or a private party. The coastal zone includes 300m from the line of permanent vegetation inland, as well as the coastline and beach.
No one can carry out any development activity without a permit from the CCD, he said, adding that the structure in question in Trincomalee is not permanent and will be removed after the event.
Trincomalee District Secretary, Major General (Rtd.) Ranjith de Silva said the stories about the damage to the beach are a lie. The only thing that is being done is that the undulating patches of the ground are being levelled, the road is being tarred and the area is being beautified. However, a disinformation campaign is being carried out, he said.
The designing of the platform etc., is being carried out by the Department of Government Factory (earlier known as the Public Works Department), the Sunday Times learns while the filling was done by the Road Development Authority.
“We raised to the level of the road, the sloped area that had got washed away,” said a Government Factory Department official.
When asked whether authorisation had been obtained from the CCD, he said all sections of government have been involved in the planning of the Independence Day celebrations.
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