Gravel mining racket bared

Indiscriminate gravel mining had destroyed several hundred acres of forest land reserves in Seruwila, the officials told the Daily Mirror.

Seruwila Presdeshiya Sabha Chairman Nandana Priyankara said the racket which was halted by authorities was conducted under the guise of redeveloping Mangala Wewa.

T rincomalee Divisional Forest Range Officer R. M Wijeypala said the Department had not provided a licence to mine gravel in the area.

“There is a problem with land ownership, we don’t know whom it belongs to exactly,” he said.

Wijeypala said that licensed gravel mining in the surrounding areas had also come to a halt after the massive racket was revealed.

“We are now conducting investigations into this,” he said.

However the Trincomalee Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said it had received requests to expand Mangala Wewa and transport gravel from the area. Engineer of the Bureau Wasantha Wimalarathne said the miners had been given the relevant documents and the licence had been issued to mine in the area.

“However, when expanding Mangala Wewa the workers had not followed the necessary procedures and regulations set out by the authorities and the licence has been temporarily suspended,” he said.

“If the individuals are to get the licence again they have to present the necessary documents again,” he said.