MASSIVE UPROOTING OF MANGROVES IN KALPITIYA FOR SAND MINING

Complaints made to authorities fall on deaf ears

Residents in Mohottuwarama, Kalpitiya are concerned that a vast area of more than 30 acres of mangroves in the Puliyankuda lagoon reservation has been cleared using bulldozers, uprooting the trees with machines, to prepare the area for sand mining.

They said after clearing the mangroves the area has turned into a parched up region with huge pits filled with water. They said their complaints to the authorities regarding the on-going wanton destruction of protected mangroves and sand mining

I informed it to the Kalpitiya police, the Divisional Secretariat and the Forest Conservation Department, but it was all to no avail”- A.M.A.Ayub

have fallen on deaf ears.

Mohottuwarama People’s Rights Movement President A.M.A.Ayub said the land on the lagoon reservation had been sold to a private party, but it was in question how a land with mangroves in the lagoon reservation could have been sold. “I informed it to the Kalpitiya police, the Divisional Secretariat and the Forest Conservation Department, but it was all to no avail”.

Meanwhile, Kalpitiya Divisional Secretary Rangana Fernando said he had called for a report in this regard from the Grama Niladhari of the area.

Kalpitiya Division Forest Conservation Field Officer A.R.Attanayake said he had received sev- eral complaints from the public in this regard, and it was illegal to destroy mangroves even in a private land. He said he would look into the matter.

However, residents of the area accused the authorities of lethargic attitude that resulted in the wanton destruction of protected mangroves.