Thabbowa sand mining racket: Contradictory stories from authorities
Environmentalists claim State officials turning a blind eye to destructive activities of sand miners
A large scale sand mining project is taking place on farm land near the farming settlements at the left bank of the Thabbowa Tank.
Environmentalists said the sand mining excavations have severely affected the area's farmlands and the sensitive ecosystem of Mee oya.
They also said State officials have allowed people to ignore the law and engage in an illegal sand mining racket.
Thabbowa tank is one of the major tanks in the Puttalam district and it provides water for 2200 acres of farmland. The tank can hold 15,400 square acres of water at full capacity.
State officials claimed the excavations were done in the area to create ten to 20 foot deep ponds to be used as freshwater fish farms, the environmentalists told the Sunday Times.
They also said the sand miners did not follow the rules and regulations on excavating sand, granite and gravel put forward by the Presidential task force nor did they carry out on Environmental Impact Assessment before they began their activities.
The Irrigation Department had not made any comments on the incident even though sand tippers had damaged irrigation canals while loading and transporting sand from the area daily.
Moreover, M. D Harisson, chairman of one of the area's farmers associations, said the sand miners had claimed they were excavating the area so farmers could get water easily for their lands.
However, Thabbowa Agriculture Development Officer Priyadharshani Jayasena said the excavations were not taking place near the farmlands and approval had been given for the activity after a request from the divisional secretary.
Karuwalagaswewa Divisional Secretary Janaka Tushara Balasuriya said he had earlier given approval for freshwater fish ponds, but later on the project was stopped.
"Now officials from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau are saying they are not making ponds, but they are engaging in commercial sand mining. They have not obtained our recommendations to engage in mineral sand excavations," he said.
He added that sand mining around 40 feet away from Mee oya would be allowed, but the excavations in the area were being carried out illegally, as no permits had been obtained.
Wayamba province Geological Survey and Mines Bureau Office Manager Tharindu Warnasuriya said they issue permits only after recommendations were made by the divisional secretary. He added that they did not issue permits for excavations that would be done too close to Mee oya, or in a manner that would harm the water body and its delicate ecosystem.
Furthermore, Wayamba province Environmental Authority Director Saman Lenaduwa said the recommended places were not excavated but other areas had been excavated.
"We are conducting an investigation into this issue," he said.