Illegal Sand Mining Causes Chaos In Kurunegala

By Hafsa Sabry(Sunday Leader) 2015.11.20

In the wake of the re-election of the new government, instances of illegal sand mining allegedly carried out by several influential politicians of the previous regime has come to light. The illegal sand mining and the land distribution to a few favourites of some politicians have reportedly created chaos among the villagers who still are in need of a piece of land in the Kurunegala area.
Despite the court case 226/HRC/2007 ordering to stop the sand mining immediately in the Nikawaretiya area in Kurunegala due to adverse environmental impact, the process allegedly continues with political influences of Salinda Dissanayake and Minister S.B. Navinna while violating laws applicable to the national environmental act for nearly a decade now, claimed Ravindra Kariyawasam, an environmentalist and a researcher of the Centre for Environmental and Nature Studies (CENS).
“This illegal sand mining has taken a toll on the environment and the day-to-day life of the villagers”, claimed the people in the area. As a result of sand mining in the area, the river banks are being damaged which will cause landslides and soil erosion while affecting the cultivations along the river bank. Coconut and Chena cultivation along the river bank were irrigated by Deduru Oya in the Kurunegala District and sand mining has become a threat due to rapid soil erosion.
There are several layers of the sand in which they mine the second horizon that we call ‘topsoil’ and it is located just below the first Horizon. This layer is made up of minerals and decomposed organic matter and is dark in colour. This is the layer that many plant roots grow in and are used for several purposes.
After mining the first horizon, the miners wash them off to get the top soil, and following the washing process, the mud and the sludge are not dumped according to the national environmental act, but into the river.
“Sand mining is banned in Chilaw as they damage the soil while leaving large holes on the ground which after heavy rain falls with water and as a result Dengue and other diseases caused by mosquitoes are also reported in the area”, said environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam.

Roads damaged
He also said that Minuvangeta is one of the areas in which the sand is mined in large quantities which lead to the roads being damaged as well.
“The Lorries that carry sand through the Kurunegala are overloaded while we could clearly see the road being damaged and many potholes as a result of this loaded vehicles transportation”, said Kariyawasam.
“We have spoken to several authorities regarding the sand mining issues in the Kurunegala area, no solid action was taken against it by the Colombo CEA but the CEA of Kurunegala district has placed measures to stop the illegal sand mining, but a national level action would do better in stopping the sand mining. Therefore, CEA of Colombo should take legal action against it”, he further stated.
“Some of them who are engaged in the sand mining are not willing to come forward to reveal any information due to the influence of the politicians”, he said.
“Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be conducted for any kind of sand mining before they begin mining, but if the sand mining fails to meet the requirements of the national environmental act of the CEA it would not approve their mining nor will they be given the license whereas, this particular sand mining in Kurunegala district has received the license illegally while violating the regulations”, said the Director of Environment Conservation Trust (ECT) Sajeewa Chamikara.
“As a result of the illegal sand mining in the area, the ground water level has gone down from the normal level which effects the coconut cultivation in the area”, he further claimed.
Nevertheless, environmentalists claim that if the soil is damaged by illegal sand mining, it will result in ground water level going down that leaves the possibility to crack the soil under-ground which will be the main cause for landslides in the area.
T. B. Ekanayake, State Minister of Lands says that the authority had received complaints claiming of an illegal sand mining in the Kurunegala district therefore, “I have instructed the Wellawaya police to check on it while the relevant authorities are being instructed to conduct investigations on the illegal sand mining”.
Renowned researcher on sand mining in Sri Lanka Professor Jinadasa Katupotha said that the illegal sand mining is not only carried out in the Deduru Oya but also in Maha Oya, Mahaweli River and many more rivers in our country, but claimed that it is unfortunate that the laws of the country does not apply to these politicians.
He also said that the politicians and the followers of them allegedly involved in the illegal sand mining have obstructed them from conducting research on the matter. “The last research I did on sand mining was in 2006, after that we were not adequately funded to carry out any sort of research”. He also claimed that even though the coral mining and the shell mining is banned in the country, some carry out inland mining beyond 300 meters from the river.
He also said that the companies that carry out sand mining in the country with the approval of government also damage the environment as the EIA’s which were assessed by relevant authorities do not reveal the real condition as the politicians influence the government bodies.
“The environment and the people who live in it are left helpless as political influence is used to cover up the violation of the rules and regulations “, he further claimed.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament from Kurunegala District, Salinda Dissanayake denied allegations levelled against him.
“I have no authorisation to give license for people to mine sand in the area and I have not distributed lands to my favourites but the villagers in the area. Sometimes the sand mining in the area is carried out by the Ministry of Irrigation & Water Resources Management as much irrigation related projects are being carried out in Kurunegala District”, said Dissanayake.
This is not a new process that the irrigation department itself mine sand in the area, it was even carried out earlier and however, the country needs sand for several purposes. If that is harmful or damaging to the environment there are responsible authorities to look into that matter. “We distributed approximately 13 acres of government land to the people of low income in the area and not to my favourites”, he further stated. When contacted by The Sunday Leader for a comment, Minister S.B. Navinna said he is busy and will speak to us later