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Conservation land released for development projects, RTI response shows
Large extents of public conservation land in the North Central and Eastern Provinces have been released to public and private sector developers, despite concerns over threats to endangered fauna and flora, documents obtained under the Right to Information Act reveal.
The Neluganga forest reserve
The Environmental Impact Assessment report, one of the documents obtained from the Mahaweli Authority by invoking the Right to Information Act, points out that the conservation of the Nelugala forest reserve, from which land has been released, is important for the protection of endangered fauna and flora.
Besides the Nelugala forest reserve, the documents show that land has been released from the Madura Oya, Somawathiya and Thrikonamadu conservation areas.
According to the documents, the forest reserves are home to 41 fauna and flora species, of which 29 are classified as endangered, in addition comprises rare trees.
However, the Sunday Times learns that the Forest Conservation Department has approved the release of 17,300 ha for the Madura Oya south bank development project, and some 2,750 acres to a private sector tourism developer for a park project.
Environmentalists have raised concern over the projects because they not only pose a threat to the area’s fauna and flora but also disrupt the elephant corridor.
However, Mahaweli Development and Environmental Ministry Additional Secretary Mapa Pathirana, addressing a seminar for journalists recently said there could not be development if the government ignored the concept of sustainable development.
Madura Oya forest reserve