News
Sand mining eroding Dambulu Oya banks
View(s):
story and Pix by Thisara Samal
A sand mining racket taking place in Galkiriyagama and Madatugama has destroyed the Kirawala Bridge along with the banks of the Dambulu Oya, alleyways and caused the uprooting of significant trees, residents claim.
Residents said that the criminal masterminds behind the large scale racket were dominant in the area, and that officials responsible for their arrests have been bribed, resulting in the hazardous state of the Kirawala Bridge.
A temporary bridge has been built to prevent a potential collapse of the frequently used bridge. However, soil erosion in certain areas beneath the temporary bridge pose a threat of it collapsing.
Residents raised concerns over the organised racket, pointing out that the racketeers use baskets to fill boats with sand to be brought ashore, and even use tractors inside the Oya, all done without permits.
Farmers lamented that the illegal sand mining has blocked water streams flowing to farmlands.
Despite requests made to relevant officials to intervene, farmers said the requests went unheard. Twenty acres of farmland are presently at risk as famers fear the destruction of their crops. “If rains fall, we have some rice to consume. If not, we will die of hunger,” one farmer said.
A farmer worries waterways will dry up in the future
An unstable footing
Large trees felled by the erosion
Illicit mining going on along the river banks
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!