Hotels impacted by soil erosion in the South

The Coast Conservation Department (CCD) has been working on assisting hotels and other establishments affected by the erosion taking place in the South.

CCD Director General Prabhath Chandrakeerthi told the Business Times on Thursday that they were assisting hotels that have been in touch with them over the soil erosion problem in the south.

He noted that currently at least two hotels in Hikkaduwa had informed him of the dangers that the soil erosion is impacting on them during the course of last week.

In this respect, the CCD has already been engaged to protect the sites and were also looking at a similar problem in other areas like Marawila and Chilaw.

“We are doing some emergency work and protecting the properties,” Mr. Chandrakeerthi explained.

He also noted however, they were faced with the issue of gaining access to certain areas in the south like Marawila due to flooding. As a result they were compelled to hold back their work until the waters recede.

Meanwhile, the CCD DG said that in other developments following the demolition of unauthorised structures on the coastal belt of Weligama they were also pursuing a similar concern in Negombo.

However, they were yet to decide on a date to carry out such demolitions in Negombo.

In the meantime, he noted that his department had already written to the relevant parties and have asked them to participate in removing the unauthorised structures voluntarily.

Else, he pointed out that they would be compelled to remove the structures within the next two months. The DG did not specify a date when the department would carry out the demolition work.