Environmentalists sound warning ‘Mahaweli bid to reduce size of EMZ will worsen human-jumbo conflict’

Pro-govt. racketeers engaged in illegal activities with impunity

By Rathindra Kuruwita 

The Mahaweli Authority has insisted 5,750 acres be removed from the proposed Hambantota Elephant Management Zone (EMZ) and if the Authority is allowed to have its way the human-elephant conflict and the water shortage in the area will worsen, environmentalists warn.

Environmental activist Sajeewa Chamikara said yesterday the undue delay in declaring EMZ was mainly due to obstacles placed by the Mahaweli Authority.

 “The plan to create this reserve was prepared in 2010 and approval granted in 2011. However, powerful ministers of both the Rajapaksa and yahapalana governments prevented the implementation of the plan. The same people are behind a large number of illegal soil and granite extraction sites in the area earmarked for the reserve. These racketeers have the support of politicians in the SLPP and the SJB and Mahaweli Authority officials.”

Chamikara said that the Mahaweli Authority had allowed big businessmen to pump water to their illegal cultivations inside the area within the proposed EMZ, and as a result small-scale farmers were facing a severe water shortage, he said. “The farmers of Hambantota who have been protesting for nearly 100 days, will continue with their agitation until the gazette notification declaring the Wild Elephant Management Reserve in Hambantota is published”, the environmental activist said.

“Due to the continuous protests by farmers the Mahaweli Authority now has agreed to the EMZ, but it still insists that 5750 acres be removed from the EMZ and this extent includes forest area in Usgala, Andarawewa from the EMZ. This forest area is an important catchment for many of the tanks and used by elephants to enter the Andarawewa forest. If the EMZ does not encompass this particular area the human-elephant conflict in the area will take a turn for the worse, and the water shortage will become more acute.”

The Cabinet in February approved a proposal by the Minister of Environment to declare a 23,746-hectare elephant reserve subsequent to obtaining the Legal Draughtsman’s consent for publishing the gazette at issue.

Chamikara added that according to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, the Minister of Environment could declare a protected area. Given that, the government’s move was a clear diversionary tactic, he said. Chamikara said that the government had not obtained Cabinet approval for expanding the road to Lankagama in Sinharaja or parcel out land in Kandakadu, Dahaiyagala, and Somawathiya.

“Farmers know this and that’s why they will go on with their struggle until the gazette is actually printed. More than 156 farmer organisations and a number of trade unions have joined the struggle of the Hambantota farmers.