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Millions of cubic metres of sand and stone from Gampaha district
View(s):Gampaha district has been identified as the main source to provide construction material including sand and rock stones for the China – sponsored Port City project set to be re-launched in February, officials said.
The project is estimated to require 65 milion cubic metres of sand and 3.5 million cubic metres of rock stones for the project which covers 269 hectares, Coast Conservation Department, Director General Prabath Chandrakeerthi told the Sunday Times.
The sand was likely to be pumped from the sea in the area off Pamunugama in the Gampaha district while stones would be obtained from 11 approved locations in the district through registered agents, he said.
The recommendations have been made in a 1,000 page Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report currently open for public review until January 13 before the Technical committee evaluates the proposals and submit its report to the committee of secretaries. The final agreement for the proposed project is set to be ready to be submitted to the Cabinet by Western Development and Megapolis Minister Champika Ranawaka.
Ministry Secretary Nihal Rupasinghe said the lease agreement would be prepared for a 99 year period and there would be no freehold land. The project is expected to cover to 446 hectares including the water body and breakwaters.
Earlier the Chinese developers were allowed to have 20 hectares of freehold land under the US$1.4 billion ‘Port City’ project.
Mr Rupasinghe said the Attorney General’s Department was preparing the required lease agreement for the controversial project.
The Report of Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment study on the proposed Colombo Port City Development Project has been put out for public inspection at 11 locations from 8.30 a.m. to 4.15 p.m. for 30 days from Dec 1, except weekends and public holidays.
It will be available for inspection at Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, No. 500, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
- Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, New Secretariat Building, 4th Floor, Maligawatte, Colombo 10.
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource, New Secretariat Building, 3rd Floor, Maligawatte, Colombo10.
- Central Environmental Authority, No. 104, “Parisara Piyasa”, Densil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla.
- District Secretariat, Narahenpita, Colombo 05.
- Divisional Secretariat (Colombo), Dam Street, Colombo 12.
- Divisional Secretariat (Thimbirigasyaya), Narahenpita, Colombo 05.
- Divisional Secretariat, Wattala.
- Colombo Municipal Council, Colombo.
- Pradeshiya Sabhawa, Wattala.
Comments by the people or civic organizations could be submitted in writing within 30 days from Dec 1 to the Director General of the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department.