New development projects in Polonnaruwa will increase human elephant conflict

By Ifham Nizam

More than 13 companies are involved in conducting development activities in the Trikonmadu Nature Reserve in Polonnaruwa without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is mandatory before carrying out any development work in an environmentally sensitive area.

Around 1500 acres in the Trikonamadu Forest Reserve have been released among businessmen, environmentalists claim.Religious and community leaders in the area claim that they have sought the assistance of politicians to stop the illegal activities but to no avail.

Suriya Weva Temple, Chief Incumbent Ven. Dimbulgala Silanankara, speaking to journalists said politicians are assisting unlawful activities and that they had no respect for country’s laws.

He said that the clearing sections of the reserve would certainly lead to human-elephant conflict here. The Mahaweli Development Authority had laid out the basic infrastructure that the companies want, the Thera said.

After laying the ground work, the Mahaweli Development Authority had allowed certain businessmen to use the land for commercial activities, Policy and Advocacy Officer of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Janaka Withanage said.

The Reserve is rich in biodiversity and is the home for nearly 650 elephants.

“We would take legal actions against the authorities who has allowed this. We also urge the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to immediately intervene before things get worse,” Withanage added.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the land that had been cleared did not come under the purview of the Reserve. He said that since questions had been raised he would look into the matter.