GALKIRIYAGAMA RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF ILLICIT SAND MINING

People receiving political patronage are operating the racket unchecked and the river reservation had been cleared resulting in the erosion of the river bank

Residents of the area and the farmers who depend on the Malwatu Oya for irrigation facilities for agriculture and drinking water expressed concern about the extensive environmental damage caused by illegal sand miners to the river that flows through Galkiriyagama area.

They said some people receiving political patronage was operating the racket unchecked and that a vast area of the river reservation had been cleared resulting in the erosion of the river bank. They accused the relevant authorities who turned a deaf ear to the repeated representations in this regard.

“Politicians and senior officials are involved in the racket. They have ignored our complaints regarding the wanton destruction caused to the river reservation and the bank to a distance of about two kilometres. Racketeers are at liberty to carry on the contraband trade. They transport tractor loads of sand without a permit,” a representative of a farmer organisation told the media opting to remain anonymous fearing a possible threat to his life.

Meanwhile, Beat Forest Officer of the Thirappane Forest Conservation Office Kapila Dinesh said he carried out several raids but none of the racketeers could be arrested. He said spies are kept at regular intervals along the road to keep watch and admitted that racketeers were transporting tractor loads of sand without a permit.