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Sons of Divulapitiya soil rise against environment sins
Akaragama: Mining activities were suspended after Presidential Secretariat officials visited the site for inspection on Wednesday. Pic by Richard Perera
Soil mining at the controversial Akaragama site in Divulapitiya has come to a halt following a presidential directive.
Mining activities were suspended after Presidential Secretariat officials visited the site for inspection on Wednesday.
Prior to the order being issued, officials of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, the Central Environmental Authority and the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretariat, accompanied by the police, inspected the area.
The controversy over sand mining at this site hit the national headlines this week following a heated argument between Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake and the Divisional Secretary.
TV clips showed the deputy minister arguing with the Divisional Secretary over the phone, invoking curses on her and accusing her of not taking measures to stop mining at the site.
Mr. Ramanayake visited the site after a demonstration by residents backed by an organisation called as the Diriya Puravasi Samithiya of Akaragama. (See box story.)
Dias Samaranayake, the convenor of the organisation, told the Sunday Times they protested because there was no response to their written complaints to the Divisional Secretariat. He said that on December 8, they wrote to the Divisional Secretary, explaining the difficulties the residents were undergoing and the harm caused to the environment as a result of the sand mining that had been going on for three years.
He said that the ground water resources had dried up and there was not enough water for drinking and cultivation. The residents were also suffering from respiratory illnesses because of the dust caused by large-scale excavation and the movement of heavy vehicles. In addition, it had caused deforestation in the area.
He said the residents fear that if this devastation was not stopped, the area would soon become uninhabitable.
Geological Survey and Mines Bureau chairman D.M.D.O.K. Dissanayake said excessive soil mining was illegal as it would cause damage to the environment.
Wells in the area (above and below) have dried up as a result of the soil mining
He said that a permit allowed extraction of 525 cubes of soil a month, but it appeared that about 3,000-4,000 cubes were being removed from the site and in some instances using forged permits.
Mr. Dissanayake said the absence of an effective monitoring mechanism was a major shortcoming. He said plans were underway to rectify the situation and check illegal mining. “We will issues licence that cannot be altered or forged and introduce a tracking system when soil is being transported,” he said.
Mr. Dissanayake said the bureau had taken action against those who had forged permits though there had been instances where his officials were unable to carry out their duties peacefully.
| SLASA to announce decision today Reacting to Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake’s refusal to apologise for allegedly threatening the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary, the Sri Lanka Administrative and Service Association said it would announce its decision on further action today. The Association had set Friday as the deadline for Mr Ramanayake to make an apology for threatening the officer on the grounds she had failed to take action to stop illegal soil mining in Akaragama. SLASA President Ranjith Ariyaratne said the association had a meeting on Friday and would make an announcement today regarding further action. On Monday, Gampaha district administrative service officers staged a walkout and held a demonstration, demanding an apology from the deputy minister for insulting and threatening a female administrative officer. Mr. Ramanayake told the Sunday Times that he had made a verbal complaint to the Bribery and Corruption commission against the Divisional Secretary and would file a written complaint soon. He said he was not prepared to apologise to anyone over the matter. But he said he believed that on the contrary the Divisional Secretary should apologise to Divulapitiay residents for not taking action against their complaints. The Divisional Secretary declined to comment. |
