Sunday, July 31, 2011

Mahaweli Authority Blunders

By Gazala Anver

The Chairman of the Central Environment Authority (CEA), Charitha Herath, said that the CEA needs to address many issues, including the wrongs committed by the Mahaweli Authority (MA) with regard to the unlicensed Warathenna Hydro Power Project.
Legal action will be taken against the project proponents, Asia Hydro Power Generation Private Ltd, who have continued with the project despite not receiving a license from the CEA.
They had previously been granted a three year license, during which time they failed to start the project. There was a request to renew the license but the CEA informs that they did not give concurrence for the project to take place the second time around.
“Despite asking for our concurrence, which we did not give, the MA gave clearance to the project proponents,” said Herath. He added that the project proponents seemed to be “having some understanding with the MA but this is not enough for them to go ahead.”
“We need to hold more meetings with the MA and the project proponents before we can take legal action,” he said. “We need to look at what we can do to mitigate this problem,” he added.
Director General, Mahaweli Authority, D.M.C Dissanayake meanwhile dodged the issue when contacted. “There is no problem now, we stopped that,” he said. When asked if the MA continued despite the red light from the CEA, he said that “initially we had done that – now we stopped.”
Environmentalists highlighted that environmental problems have been caused due to the blasting that took place for the project. The Green Labeo, (scientific name Labeo fischeri), was in fact believed to be extinct until the blasting brought to surface three dead specimens. These fish are now highly endangered, they highlighted.
Scientist, Pradeep Samarawickrema also noted that the blasting did not stop until last Sunday (July 24), despite the Mahaweli Authority claiming to The Sunday Leader that they sent a team to investigate the matter on Friday 22.

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