 Residents of several areas in Walasmulla are living in constant fear of earthslips and falling rocks during the rainy season which is now prevalent. They said the Sapathanthri Kanda range that includes Thalapathkanda, Rammalakanda and Dehigahahenakanda hills are prone to earthslips. Soil erosion in the Saputhanthrikanda range was first experienced during the floods in 1969. Rain every year in the Hambantota district, has worsened the situation. In 2004, when a massive landslide took 17 lives and razed several buildings to the ground, including the government school, the residents said that natural disasters in the past were eye openers which the authorities ignored, in spite of representations made to them.
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) declared that it is an area prone to earthslips. Environmentalists were of the opinion that felling of trees for timber and clearing of forest for cultivation were the causes which have continued, in spite of warnings. An elderly villager said that he first noticed the signs of disaster way back in 1920, when muddy water flooded the area. Aware of their experiences with natural disasters, the people had informed the authorities of the imminent danger. It was during colonial times that the GA had inspected the region and planted forest trees to reinforce the soil. But since Independence, successive governments had ignored the potential dangers while illicit felling of trees banned by the British went on.
Derana Environmental Society President D. Deshapriya said that the range of hills with its biodiversity has been affected due to human acts. He is of the view that reforesting should be done. A geologist of the NBRO said that earthslips were due to the clearing of forest cover, adding that the department launched several programmes to create public awareness, and that little could be done if people ignored the dangers. Walasmulla Divisonal Secretary Dipika Gunaratne said that with the help of the NBRO and the Forest Conversation Department, a public awareness programme has to be launched. |
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