Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Despite Supreme Court ban, mechanised sand mining goes unheeded
By Damitha Hemachandra
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Despite a ban by the Supreme Court against mechanised sand mining in our waterways until the adoption of a national policy on mechanised sand mining, miners continue their large-scale operation unhindered by authorities.
Aided by leading politicians in the area, mechanised sand miners were said to be operating under licence issued for manual sand mining, which would lapse its time mid this year.
Although illegal sand mining could be found along the Maha Oya left bank at Kochchikade, the worst hit area is the North Pallansena, where large sand dunes were being mined using backhoes.
Spokesman for the Environment Foundation Limited, Sajeewa Chammika said these sand dunes, which were created over decades by the change of flow by Maha Oya river are now in private owned lands and are being heavily excavated creating heavy erosion and breaking its banks. According to Mr. Chammika, nearly three acres on the Maha Oya bank had been destroyed by heavy sand mining and are scattered with pits as big as 25 feet filled with water.
"The sand miners were pumping water out of the holes to the Maha Oya, thus polluting the river," he said.
Meanwhile, heavy sand mining is having a heavy toll on the water system of the area with many habitants complaining of increasing salinity in their wells.
However, the authorities had failed to take any action, despite the operation being against the Supreme Court ruling.
The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said the responsibility of stopping the illegal operations, lie with the Police and Divisional Secretary in Negombo.
While agreeing that mechanised sand mining could not be done without an Environment Impact Assessment, and is further illegal due to the Supreme Court ruling, the Divisional Secretary said that the ultimate responsibility lies with the Negombo Police. "The trucks transporting these 'illegally mined sand travels pass the Police," he said pledging strict action in the future.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/01/22/news/12.asp
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Despite a ban by the Supreme Court against mechanised sand mining in our waterways until the adoption of a national policy on mechanised sand mining, miners continue their large-scale operation unhindered by authorities.
Aided by leading politicians in the area, mechanised sand miners were said to be operating under licence issued for manual sand mining, which would lapse its time mid this year.
Although illegal sand mining could be found along the Maha Oya left bank at Kochchikade, the worst hit area is the North Pallansena, where large sand dunes were being mined using backhoes.
Spokesman for the Environment Foundation Limited, Sajeewa Chammika said these sand dunes, which were created over decades by the change of flow by Maha Oya river are now in private owned lands and are being heavily excavated creating heavy erosion and breaking its banks. According to Mr. Chammika, nearly three acres on the Maha Oya bank had been destroyed by heavy sand mining and are scattered with pits as big as 25 feet filled with water.
"The sand miners were pumping water out of the holes to the Maha Oya, thus polluting the river," he said.
Meanwhile, heavy sand mining is having a heavy toll on the water system of the area with many habitants complaining of increasing salinity in their wells.
However, the authorities had failed to take any action, despite the operation being against the Supreme Court ruling.
The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said the responsibility of stopping the illegal operations, lie with the Police and Divisional Secretary in Negombo.
While agreeing that mechanised sand mining could not be done without an Environment Impact Assessment, and is further illegal due to the Supreme Court ruling, the Divisional Secretary said that the ultimate responsibility lies with the Negombo Police. "The trucks transporting these 'illegally mined sand travels pass the Police," he said pledging strict action in the future.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/01/22/news/12.asp
