INSEE Cement comments on progress on rehabilitation of encroached and illegally cleared land in Puttalam
View(s):INSEE Cement has issued an update and progress report of work completed towards the rehabilitation and reforestation efforts addressing the incident of illegal encroachment and forest clearing in its long-term leased land in Aruwakkalu.
Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera takes part in the reforestation programme
During early September 2020, approximately 29 acres of forest land was illegally cleared causing detrimental environmental impacts. INSEE Cement immediately commenced a series of activities to prevent reoccurrence and to rehabilitate the affected area. The fast response demonstrates the company’s commitment towards the environment and to report transparently to all stakeholders, it said in a media release.
INSEE Cement has commenced reforestation and since replanted nearly 8,000 plants over a land area of 15 acres. Additionally, in a bid to plant 19,000 plants in the affected area, the plants have already been procured from the Forest Department and are in the process of being planted.
The company has completed surveying of the affected area and clearly marked the boundaries. Boundary indicator poles purchased from the State Development and Construction Corporation are being installed. In order to increase security measures, guards on motorbikes continue to patrol the area on an ongoing basis.
The deployment of a drone camera for closer surveillance and recording of land encroachments has also been actioned. Installation and display of sign and notice boards along the boundary indicating land ownership and warning to trespassers is in progress, the release said.
INSEE Cement is continuously working with the close-by communities to create awareness on the importance of protecting forests and the reforestation efforts.
INSEE Cement said it pledges to continue the reforestation programme to nurture and restore the area together with all relevant stakeholders to ensure optimum protection of Sri Lanka’s ecosystem.