The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) will be issuing more licences to individuals panning for gold in the Kelani Ganga if the quantity of gold found in it increases, said Bureau Director General B. A. Peiris.
The Bureau has already issued 300 licences to individuals in the Dompe Divisional Secretariat area and 150 to those on the other side of the river bank in Hanwella, at Rs. 2000 per licence.
He explained that only the people of these areas were eligible to obtain licences.
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| Hema Liyana Arachchi |
B. A. Peiris |
“There was a criteria adopted in choosing these people too. Some of the conditions imposed by the Bureau are that applicants should be above 18 years of age, they can’t use any sort of machinery for this task, the search for gold should be limited to a specific time which is from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., not more than 250g of sand should be extracted from the river in the search for gold, no chemicals should be used to extract gold and the licence holder is not permitted to mine for gems using this document,” he said.
He said licences were issued only to people who are living on the Kelani Ganga banks to search for gold because they are more experienced and know well the conditions of the river. “These people are well acquainted with the vagaries of the river since they have been living on its banks and know when the river gets too rough and when it is safe,” he said.
The Kelani Ganga was the focus of attention of the media and the public when the news broke of the gold findings in the river.
Villagers of the Dompe area rushed to the river banks with pots and bowls they use for cooking to try their luck in the search for gold.
However the Government stepped in at this stage and issued licences to the gold miners to make the process more legal.
The licence is valid for three months and is renewed by the Bureau. “We renew the licence only if the licence holder abided by the conditions,” Mr. Peiris added.
“They find small pieces of gold in the river. If they are lucky they will find enough gold pieces to get a good price in return but if there is a possibility more gold would be found, we are considering the issuing of more licences to people of other areas as well,” he said.
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| Utensil used for panning for gold.
Pix by Saman Kariyawasam |
He said gold is found only in a 10 km stretch of the river and this area will be under the GSMB where only the licence holders can operate. “To sift gold from the soil the jewellers use mercury which is poisonous. If anyone starts to sell these kinds of chemicals to the villagers it will cause many problems,” he added.
GSMB Registrar Hema Liyana Arachchi said the Bureau had decided to put up banners on the banks of the river to educate the people of how poisonous these chemicals are.She also said that the miners use cement chatties and rough bowls they use in their house holds.
“These vessels cause damage to the gold mined and collected in them. We have got some gold pans from Australia which are used there. If the people get more involved in this industry and find more gold we have decided to introduce the gold pan to them,” she said.
Another problem the Bureau faces is inexperienced people diving into the river and getting drowned.
“We are looking into the problem and doing our best to avoid such misfortunes,” GSMB Director General Peiris said.
Although it was reported that a death took place while searching for gold, Ms. Liyana Arachchi stated that it was false information and the person who was killed got drunk at a funeral and drowned in the river when he came for a bath to the river shortly afterwards.
GSMB geologists are now researching the origin of the gold found in the Kelani Ganga. |
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