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CEA seeks AG’s advice on proposed elevated highway across Thalangama wetland
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has sought the Attorney General’s advice on whether it can grant approval for any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that is done on the Road Development Authority’s proposed elevated highway across the protected Thalangama wetland and Averihena tank.
The 10.4km stretch of highway is the second phase of a 17.3km project from New Kelani Bridge in Orugodawatte to Athurugiriya. Contentiously, 3.15kms of road crosses the Averihena Tank and surrounding paddy fields which are part of the Thalangama wetland, gazetted as an Environmental Protection Area (EPA).
The RDA has placed road markers along the paddy fields indicating the route of the proposed highway, although an EIA–which is mandatory–has not yet been for that segment of road.
“Even if an EIA is done, we cannot give approval for it as what is proposed is not an approved activity under the EPA gazette,” said CEA Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe.
“It is in this regard that we asked the AG’s advice,” he said.
The CEA has also directed the RDA to stop any road-marking. The Thalangama wetland is home to birds, reptiles, mammals, fish and insects, including threatened species and both farmers and residents are protesting against the project.
A 2019 EIA only relates to the first phase from New Kelani Bridge to Rajagiriya (near HSBC) with a link to Baseline Road. It does not cover the second phase. But even this survey recorded a total of 143 fauna species, among which four species are endemic and nine are identified as threatened.
“The most significant adverse impacts identified in the project are the impacts on social environment and hydrology during construction stage,” it said.
Residents affected in this project are also deeply concerned that part of the road runs through heavily settled areas, for instance, in Battaramulla. They say they have been given no information officially. As far back as 2016, residents of Bogahena Road, Lihiniya Garden, Ganahena and surrounding areas of Battaramulla wrote to the authorities expressing deep concern regarding the project.
The Phase I EIA shows Government will also have to acquire 750 lots of land and demolish around 118 shops, shop houses and places of self-employment in Meethotamulla, Dematagoda, Borella North, Wanathamulla, Welikada West and Kotuwegoda. Other than sections located within canals the highway will cross mostly residential and commercial areas which will have to be acquired.
While there are three possible traces for the roadway, the handpicked investor (China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd) is insisting on the shortest route as the initiative will be funded, not through a loan, but a public private partnership which will ensure better returns on investment.
Transport experts have earlier warned that this model is unlikely to be sufficiently financially feasible without significant viability gap funding (Government support in the form of contribution of some of the construction cost).