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CP Conservationists protest imminent destruction of 8 1/2 acres of Pine
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The Pinus plot
“Hantanne Nature Conservation Society”, an umbrella organisation of Environmental groups in the Central Province, yesterday launched a protest campaign against the imminent destruction of an eight-and-a-half acre Pinus plot in Sarasavigama.
They claimed that a Ministerial Secretary had approached the Land Reform Commission for the release of this plot for a housing project.
Section 11 of the Gazette notification of February 17, 2010, states that, “When Pinus land is to be cut, it has to be done in blocks and then transplanted with indigenous varieties of trees. The deforested block has to grow to a certain limit before another block of land is cut, and the same procedure adopted.”
The meeting was presided by Dr S.Yatigamana of the University of Peradniya.
Speakers alleged that the Central Environment Authority does not take action within specified times, and thereby, more damage is done. They alleged that even the Hantane Reservation Management Committee is looking after the interests of politicians.
They decided that the Kandy Municipal Council and Gangawatta Korale officials be informed of environmental issues as Hantanne Reservation comes within their purview.
They said the ‘green cover’ should be the concern of everyone, where it should be encouraged to plant material in already diminishing forests around Kandy. Reforestation would cut off fuel emissions, resulting in clean air.
Among those who spoke were Hantane Reservation Society President, Amith Senanayke, veteran environmentalist Pradeep, and a number of Lawyers.