Web of Life

'Sand and clay mining have caused grave environmental problems in Wayamba.

These miners not only destruct resources but also damage roads. Under such circumstances as a responsible Provincial Council we are compelled to introduce sand barriers to prevent transporting sand out of Wayamba. A tax will be levied from those transporters, Wayamba Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe said.

Addressing a press briefing on the sand and clay mining in Wayamba held in the Chief Ministry Auditorium on Wednesday the Chief Minister pointed out that mining and transporting sand in Wayamba was suspended on September 5 until the report on the committee appointed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs to study the danger caused by sand mining in Wayamba and submit proposals for minimising the destruction.

'Our stance is not to ban sand mining totally but to minimise environmental damage.

'Due to sand mining, a shortage of drinking water has arisen and at this critical stage we will have to decide whether we allow a few businessmen to survive allowing excessive large scale sand mining or provide drinking water for the majority of Wayamba people for their existence, Wijesinghe said.

The Chief Minister stated that Geological Survey and Mines Bureau was the sole authority on issuing permits for mining and transporting sand.

They pay no attention to the environmental issues nor get the recommendation of the Divisional Secretary when issuing permits. 2,000 such permits had been issued to transport sand from Kalpitiya sand bar.

Accordingly 4 lakhs sand cubes would be removed in a month. If such a removal was done Kalpitiya would be subjected to sea erosion.

The Director Wayamba Provincial Environmental Authority Saman Senanayaka pointed out that sand and clay are treated as minerals under the Mines and Mineral Act No. 33 of 1992. However mining such minerals is treated as a cognizant offence not as a crime.

So the offenders could not be arrested without a court order.

Environmental feasibility evaluation was essential before issuing permits for sand and clay mining.

Then only the environmental equilibrium could be preserved.