60 acres obstructed by unauthorised erection, says Sec. Matale PS

Secretary of the Matale Pradeshiya Sabha T.B. Heenkenda said a vast area of Muwagalathenna forest reserve in Matalethenna had been cleared and a wall erected across a canal causing extensive damage to the water resources by an organised group of individuals.

He told a meeting of the Matale District Coordinating Committee that the water resources in an area of about 60acres had been obstructed by the unauthorised erection. The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the District Coordinating Committee, Ranjith Aluvihare.

The Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary pointed out that the individuals concerned had constructed tanks to tap the water resources illegally and that it prevented the free flow of water to irrigate a vast tract of paddy fields and to provide drinking water to a large population in several villages including Pandivitha,thenna, Thibbotuwewa, and Morahela. He said that the people would face a shortage of drinking water and irrigation facilities for agriculture.

Matale Divisional Secretary K.p.k.l.maduwanthi said she with the Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary carried out an inspection of the ongoing damage to the water resources and the forest reserve to find that the land came within the purview of Ukuwela Division. However, she pointed out that greater damage had been caused to the Matale Division.

The Chairman Ranjith Aluvihare instructed the officials to carry out an inspection with the participation of Matale and Ukuwela divisional secretaries and to submit a report to the committee.

Member of the Central Provincial Council A.H.M. Ibrahim, Mayor of Matale, Daljin Aluvihare, Leader of the Opposition in the Matale Pradeshiya Sabha Gamini Costa attended the meeting.