NEGLECT ‘TAKES TOLL’ ON TREES ALONG SOUTHERN EXPRESSWAY

The trees planted along the Southern Expressway under a landscaping project undertaken by the Forest Conservation Department have withered away due to neglect.

The Department had planted 6,278 trees in 2011 along the Expressway from Pinnaduwa to Bentota in the Galle district. The trees planted by the Forest Conservation

Authorities of the Expressway project have failed to provide funds to the Forest Conservation Department, and this has resulted in the neglect of the trees

Department include Halmilla, Hora, Ginispu, Lunumidella , Mahogani, and Kumbuk that are high in timber value. The Forest Conservation Department had undertaken to maintain the plants for one year. However, the authorities of the Expressway project had failed to provide funds to the Forest Conservation Department, and it has resulted in the neglect of maintenance. District Forest Officer, H.A.Wasantha said they had undertaken to maintain the plants for one year, and subsequent- ly hand them over to the Expressway project. “We have planted trees of timber value that could be felled when the Expressway is widened in the future and earn a large income. However, the authorities of the project failed to provide funds to maintain the plants until they are grown. Many of the plants have withered due to lack of care, “he said,.