Oxygen kannada?

Wednesday 13th January, 2021

Environmentalists and religious dignitaries including Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, are cranking up pressure on the government to abandon a mega project to be implemented at the expense of a section of the Muthurajawela wetland. The incumbent dispensation apparently has a ravenous appetite for ecologically sensitive areas such as wetlands, forest reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. A state minister tried to clear a mangrove forest in Negombo to build a playground. He would have succeeded in his endeavour but for an intrepid female Forest Officer, named Devani Jayathilake, who stood up to him. In a bid to scoff at her concern for air quality in the area, he demanded to know whether oxygen could be ‘eaten’—oxygen kannada? This seems to be the government motto where the environment is concerned. Another state minister took on a group of Wildlife officers who courageously frustrated his attempt to turn a wildlife sanctuary into a pastureland in Polonnaruwa. Now, some government worthies and their cronies are trying to gang-rape the precious wetland, nay ecological treasure trove, north of Colombo.

Coronavirus reduces blood oxygen level in critically ill patients and makes them gasp for breath. Deforestation also could have a similar effect on humans. Frantic efforts are being made to curb the spread of COVID-19, but precious little is done to prevent the deterioration of air quality due to the destruction of forests.

More than 82,000 acres of forest have been cleared for development projects, in this country, during the last decade, according to a recent news item in this newspaper. Development always entails an environmental cost, but everything possible must be done to mitigate its adverse effects and make it sustainable. The country’s forest cover has receded to an alarming 17% due to development projects, agriculture and timber rackets, and the need for urgent action to increase it cannot be overemphasised. But we have seen only half-hearted forest conservation or reforestation efforts during the last several decades.

The current administration has, in its wisdom, removed ‘peripheral forests’ or other state forests from the purview of the Forest Department and brought them under the Divisional and District Secretariats. This will invariably lead to encroachment and the destruction of the remaining trees in those areas, which should be left untouched for forests to recover.

The country’s forest cover suffered an irreparable damage at the hands of the British colonialists, who cleared virgin forests for coffee and tea plantations. But there were some colonial officers who really felt the need for forest conservation, unlike the so-called sons of the soil wielding power and wrapping themselves in the flag, today. One of them was Sir Joseph Hooker, as Dr. S. A. Meegama points out in his well-researched book, Guns, Taverns and Tea Shops: The Making of Modern Ceylon. Hooker intervened to prevent the British from clearing forests above five thousand feet. He, in fact, saved the forests around Sri Pada and the headwaters of the major rivers. It looks as if the present-day ‘patriotic’ leaders were making a determined effort to do what the British colonialists stopped short of doing. Environmentalists are protesting against a project to build another road to Horton Plains, which must ideally be out of bounds to all humans.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of Lawyers for Human Rights and Development Kalyananda Tiranagama has, in his article on this page today, taken exception to a government move to amend the Antiquities Ordinance. The government seeks to enable Magistrates to grant bail to offenders charged under this Ordinance, citing prison congestion, etc., as the reason. Tiranagama’s arguments against the proposed amendment are cogent. There are other ways to improve the conditions in prisons and prevent the police from abusing the existing laws to arrest offenders and have them remanded.

On examining the aforesaid gazette notification anent the ‘peripheral’ forests and the proposed amendment to the Antiquities Ordinance, one wonders whether there is a sinister plan to facilitate the plunder of forest resources and archeological treasures.