Sunday, November 27, 2011

Illegal permits issued to encroach Pallekaduwa forest reserve

By Pamithi Lavanma

The environmentally rich Pallekaduwa forest reserve nestled between the Deeghavapi sacred shrine area and the archaeological site is being threatened by encroachers using various ploys to make human settlements compelling the Forest Conservation Department to seek the assistance of the Army to stop it, official sources said.

Pallekaduwa forest reserve has an area of hundred acres approximately but the encroachers are not those underprivileged people who do not own any land. Those engaged in encroaching on the forest reserve are rich racketeers. It is said that some corrupt officials of the Addalaichenai Divisional Secretariat had prepared illegal land permits to allow them to engage in this illicit operation.

These corrupt officials had prepared 31 illegal land permits to these rich racketeers but were found by the District Land Commissioner. The encroachment of the Deeghavapi Holy shrine area has also started afresh. However the District Secretary Ampara, Sunil Kannangara sought the assistance of the Army to station a detachment in the reserve to prevent encroachment.

The District Land Commissioner’s officials have found that a Grama Niladhari attached to the Divisional Secretariat with some officers of the DS office had issued land permits to a number of individuals who started encroaching the area. They have been informed by Forest Conservation Department officials that the Divisional Secretary or his officials had no legal authority to issue permits to clear forest reserves.

Due to the heavy rains experienced now the forest reserve is facing soil erosion and destruction of the wild life. The special investigation unit of the Public Administration Ministry had investigated the matter and found that the officers of the DS office Addalachenai were guilty of serious misconduct.

http://www.nation.lk/2011/11/27/eyefea6.htm (Story 3)

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