News
Fishermen of Kappal Adiya helpless as backhoes destroy mangroves
The mangroves on the banks of the Odaya river in Kappal Adiya in Kalpitiya are now at the mercy of a development project.
Residents of the Kappal Adiya fishing village in the Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat area allege that the Administrative Grama Niladhari of the Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat has used backhoes to clear the mangroves.
“Everybody loves mangroves, because during the monsoon season we catch prawns from this stream as the prawns lay their eggs between the roots of the mangroves,” a fisherman from the area said.
-
- The destruction of mangroves
-
- Area cleared of mangroves
-
- Fencing off cleared up areas
-
- Policemen at the site
Villagers were afraid to protest over the clearing of mangroves as there was political involvement he said adding that a senior police officer and the Grama Niladhari had threatened the fishermen who were curious about their visits to the place.
In response to a query Kalpitiya OIC Chief Inspector A.R.M. Mawshan said that the land was a freehold property belonging to the Grama Niladhari and the Grama Niladhari had given permission to the Kalpitiya Divisional Secretary to start the development project by clearing the mangroves.
Attempts to contact Kalpitiya Acting Divisional Secretary Dilrukshi Fernando proved futile.
Meanwhile Puttalam Divisional Secretary Chandrasiri Bandara said he could not comment without examining the condition of the land. However, he added that mangroves could not be cut down even on freehold land.