Friday, December 03, 2004
No mechanised gem mining in Castlereagh region
CEA warns National Gems and Jewellery Authority
By Damitha Hemachandra
The Central Environment Authority (CEA), has threatened to take legal action against 49 licence holders and the National Gems and Jewellery Authority (NGJA), if the Authority failed to cancel the licence granted for mechanised gem mining in Castlereagh.
The Director General of the CEA, Manel Jayamanna said that they had already informed the NGJA to cancel the permission granted to 49 people to carry out mechanised gem mining on the banks of the Kehelgamuwa River covering an area of 65 acres.
Mrs. Jayamanna said that strict action would be taken against all the responsible parties if mechanised gemming in the area were not immediately suspended.
Mechanized gemming had increased the threat of soil erosion and landslips affecting the cultivation of tea and also destroying the high bio-diversity of the area.
However, NGJA sources said that they have taken action to minimise the environment destruction caused by mechanised gem mining at Castlereagh while the CEA still maintained that licence for mechanised gem mining could not be granted without an environment clearance certificate from the CEA.
Meanwhile, Environmentalists yesterday pointed out that the slipshod method and policy followed by the NGJA in issuing licences for gemming in the Central Province is causing irrevocable damage to the environment in the area.
The permission granted by the NGJA to conduct large scale gem mining at the left bank of the Bogawanthalawa Oya on Chapelton Estate covering an area of 25 acres had caused excessive turbidity and sedimentation.
Residents of the area had been complaining of itchiness after bathing in the river due to miners directing the water used in mining back to the river.
The CEA authorities said that they have warned the NGJA to revise their policy of granting permission for mining and had ordered them to consult the Central Environment Authority prior to issuing licences for gem mining in environmentally sensitive areas.
Thursday, November 25, 2004
By Damitha Hemachandra
The Central Environment Authority (CEA), has threatened to take legal action against 49 licence holders and the National Gems and Jewellery Authority (NGJA), if the Authority failed to cancel the licence granted for mechanised gem mining in Castlereagh.
The Director General of the CEA, Manel Jayamanna said that they had already informed the NGJA to cancel the permission granted to 49 people to carry out mechanised gem mining on the banks of the Kehelgamuwa River covering an area of 65 acres.
Mrs. Jayamanna said that strict action would be taken against all the responsible parties if mechanised gemming in the area were not immediately suspended.
Mechanized gemming had increased the threat of soil erosion and landslips affecting the cultivation of tea and also destroying the high bio-diversity of the area.
However, NGJA sources said that they have taken action to minimise the environment destruction caused by mechanised gem mining at Castlereagh while the CEA still maintained that licence for mechanised gem mining could not be granted without an environment clearance certificate from the CEA.
Meanwhile, Environmentalists yesterday pointed out that the slipshod method and policy followed by the NGJA in issuing licences for gemming in the Central Province is causing irrevocable damage to the environment in the area.
The permission granted by the NGJA to conduct large scale gem mining at the left bank of the Bogawanthalawa Oya on Chapelton Estate covering an area of 25 acres had caused excessive turbidity and sedimentation.
Residents of the area had been complaining of itchiness after bathing in the river due to miners directing the water used in mining back to the river.
The CEA authorities said that they have warned the NGJA to revise their policy of granting permission for mining and had ordered them to consult the Central Environment Authority prior to issuing licences for gem mining in environmentally sensitive areas.
