Tuesday, November 16, 2004
CEA to get tough with gem miners of Castlereagh
By Damitha Hemachandra
Monday, November 15, 2004
The Central Environment Authority (CEA) will take action against the mechanized gem miners in Chaperlton Estate in Castlereagh and the Gem and Jewellery Authority for granting approval for mining without an environment clearance from the CEA.
CEA, Director General, Manel Jayamanne said that heavy mechanized mining in the banks of the Kehelgamuwa river, a catchment of the Castlereagh Reservoir poses a threat to the reservoir.
"We would be taking legal action against all the parties responsible," Mrs. Jayamanne said adding that the CEA is seeking legal advice from the Attorney General.
She pointed that the high environment sensitivity of the area required any excavation to seek clearance through an Environment Impact Assessment.
According to the Society for Environment Protection (SEP), the Gem and Jewellery Authority had granted permission to 49 parties to do mechanised mining within 65 acres of the banks of the Kehelgamuwa River without the prior clearance from the CEA. Spokesman for SEP, Sajeewa Chamikara pointed out that the removal of soil using backhoe machines could lead to heavy erosion of riverbanks silting the reservoir.
The permission had been granted in early 2001 following complaints by the estate authorities of the increasing threat of illegal gem mining within the estate. As a solution the authority had taken over 65 acres of the estate and had auctioned it among 49 parties for mechanised gem mining.
The move had increased the threat of erosion and landslips affecting the tea cultivation and also destroying the high bio-diversity of the area
Monday, November 15, 2004
The Central Environment Authority (CEA) will take action against the mechanized gem miners in Chaperlton Estate in Castlereagh and the Gem and Jewellery Authority for granting approval for mining without an environment clearance from the CEA.
CEA, Director General, Manel Jayamanne said that heavy mechanized mining in the banks of the Kehelgamuwa river, a catchment of the Castlereagh Reservoir poses a threat to the reservoir.
"We would be taking legal action against all the parties responsible," Mrs. Jayamanne said adding that the CEA is seeking legal advice from the Attorney General.
She pointed that the high environment sensitivity of the area required any excavation to seek clearance through an Environment Impact Assessment.
According to the Society for Environment Protection (SEP), the Gem and Jewellery Authority had granted permission to 49 parties to do mechanised mining within 65 acres of the banks of the Kehelgamuwa River without the prior clearance from the CEA. Spokesman for SEP, Sajeewa Chamikara pointed out that the removal of soil using backhoe machines could lead to heavy erosion of riverbanks silting the reservoir.
The permission had been granted in early 2001 following complaints by the estate authorities of the increasing threat of illegal gem mining within the estate. As a solution the authority had taken over 65 acres of the estate and had auctioned it among 49 parties for mechanised gem mining.
The move had increased the threat of erosion and landslips affecting the tea cultivation and also destroying the high bio-diversity of the area
