OVER 150 ACRES OF FOREST DESTROYED BY FIRE

An area of more than 150 acres of forest reserve in the Rosella, Binoya, Watawala, Inwara, Carolina, and Wewel Thalawa forest reserves which form the catchments of the Mahaweli river have been destroyed by a bush fire which has been burning for the last two days.

Forest conservators said the affected area bordering either banks of the Mahaweli river from Ginigathhena on the Colombohatton

main road and on Nawalapitiya road were rich in bio diversity and water resources meeting the requirements of drinking water of a large population in the villages and the estate sector. Residents of the area said hundreds of animal and bird species endemic to the area might have been burnt. The army and the forest conservators had taken steps to douse the fire at several locations with the help of the public.

Meanwhile the Alagalla mountain range has been ablaze for more than six days destroying fauna and flora. Forest conservators said the forest reserves are set alight by villagers living in close proximity to the forests who resort to poaching of wild animals by setting fire to the bush. A deterrent to this practice would be offering cash rewards to those who provide information to apprehend the culprits responsible.

The Nuwara Eliya District Range Forest Conservator S.wijepala said the fire had broken out from estates and spread in leaps and bounds fast due to the dry weather and strong winds causing extensive damage to the forests.