Suspension of Sinharaja road construction
By Olindhi Jayasundere
The Green Movement of Sri Lanka yesterday said the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Forest Department were yet to receive a directive from the Environment Ministry regarding the suspension of the road construction in the Sinharaja rainforest though it was announced last week.
Green Movement spokesman Bandu Ranga Kariyawasam said the CEA and the Forest Department could independently take action to terminate the project but no action had still been taken. “Nothing has been done so far and it is possible that the environment authorities will not take action on this matter even though they had vowed to do so,” Kariyawasam said.
The construction of the road which stretches from Imbulkanda to Suriyakanda started on September 6 but was stopped two days later owing to the minister’s recent announcement and due to heavy rain in the area. However, he said no decision had been taken to terminate the project and that construction could recommence. He said residents of the Iludakanda village which was adjacent to the road have said that the villagers would construct the road themselves if the authorities failed to do so as they needed a road.
“Only 31% of the Sinharaja forest is secure. The rest has been illegally taken over. The Land Reforms Commission and the Forest Department should be held accountable for allowing illegal activities and land encroachments. The road has been included in the Forest Department’s Sinharaja forest management plan and therefore is a part of the rainforest and the authorities should not permit any type of construction to take place in the reserve,” he said.
http://print.dailymirror.lk/news/news/57047.html
No comments:
Post a Comment