11 quarries ruin Damana

Monday, 16 September 2013 1

More than 11 quarries being run by the brother of a goverment minister, certain officers of the wildlife conversation department and some Grama Seva officers have become a serious threat to several villages at Damana in Ampara.

Owners of these quarries at Alahena, Madana and Madawalalanda are totally disregarding environmental and other concerns and running their quarries in breach of all legal and environmental requirements, ‘Sunday Divaina’ reports after an observation tour.
According to the villagers, the wildlife conversation department, police or other responsible authoirities make no attempt at all to monitor the activities of these quarries.

They have sought legal redress against these quarries which are destroying the forestation, damaging houses and places of archaeological importance, causing health concerns for children as well as adults, drying out water resources and denying a huge tax income to the state, but the solution given seems to be a temporary one.

Commenting on the issue, the divisional secretary of Damana says it appears the quarry owners are violating the conditions, but that the major responsibility to deal with them lies with the wildlife conservation department.

Officials of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau in Ampara, the district forest officer, the deputy director of the eastern provincial Central Environmental Authority have either refused to comment, or were not available over the phone or to meet personally.