WANTON DESTRUCTION OF CATCHMENT AREAS AROUND HEENGANGA

Local politicians and the environmentalists expressed concern about the ongoing wanton destruction of the catchment areas around Heen Ganga that originates in the Knuckles Range and flows through Wilgamuwa providing irrigation facilities for agriculture and the supply of drinking water to a large population at Laggla and Wilgamuwa.

Representatives of four political organizations and environmentalists

yesterday formed an organization to protect the rights of the people living on the banks of the river and depend on it for their sustenance -- water for drinking and for agriculture.

Wilgamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman A.G. Tennakoon who convened a meeting and formed the organization represented by members of the UNP, SLFP, SLPP and the JVP to campaign against the proposed project to build a dam across the river and divert water to Kalu Ganga. He said a private company was secretly preparing a feasibility report but the project had already started causing extensive environmental damage.

The PS Chairman told the meeting that the forest was being cleared with heavy duty machinery, but neither the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority nor the leading politicians in the area have refused to provide any information on the proposed project.

The representatives said they would launch a massive campaign against this project which if allowed to go ahead would result in the wanton destruction of the forest reserve and the water resources of the people.