Removal of natural reef after submission of EFR

An Environmental Feasibility Report (EFR) is being drafted by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development requesting the removal of the natural reef which claims to hinder the Dehiwela coastal line and to build a breakwater.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera has requested for this report and after inspection, the Minister has suggested removing the reef and building a breakwater. However, Mr. Amaraweera has also pointed out the risks that the people will face once the reef is removed. Therefore soil erosion will take place faster and many houses will be washed away.

Once the report is submitted the Ministry will be allocating funds to remove the reef and to build a breakwater and allow the fishermen to engage in their activities. Eminent environmental expert and systems ecologist Dr. Ranil Senanayake said that if this breakwater is removed Colombo will be losing its last environmental protection against the rising of the sea level. “The politicians don’t understand the gravity of its impact after it’s removed. For all these years, how did these boats leave to the sea? Why do they suggest that it should be removed all of a sudden? This is completely ridiculous and if future there will be many adverse impacts on climate change if such an action is being taken.”

Aruna Roshantha of the All Ceylon Fisheries Union said that removing the natural breakwater is not a wise thing to be done. “Fishermen too have their own experiences. If they claim it to be a barrier for them, then the authorities should ensure that they develop favourable conditions for the fishermen to do their fishing. Some of them do fishing during the night and during the days of rough tides, there could be an added risk. According to the fishermen this reef has caused many deaths while on their voyages and has imposed a huge risk on their lives. So far 6 fishermen have lost their lives as a result of their boats hitting the reef and eventually capsizing. However, the Daily Mirror also learned that over the years, the fishermen have been taking their boats out to the sea through a place named ‘kadamaththa’, a U-shaped inversion that has been designed for this purpose. Yet, during the night fishermen usually forget where they have to leave from and at times they are under the influence of alcohol.

A few days back a protest was held by a group of fishermen blocking the railway lines in Dehiwela and requesting the authorities to remove the reef that is obstructing their day-to-day activities. The issue was taken in to consideration by the Minister two months ago and after his visit to the area he has decided to remove the reef and build a breakwater to reduce the rising sea level. A meeting will be held today at the Ministry to discuss about the removal of the reef with the presence of the Minister and the fishing community

(Source : 08/07/2016Daily Mirror : http://www.dailymirror.lk/112200/Removal-of-natural-reef-after-submission-of-EFR#sthash.3orCo3bN.dpuf)

RDA announces Highway Tree Planting Week

The Road Development Authority (RDA) in its efforts to reinforce sustainable development has identified an opportunity to plant trees on the wayside of the Southern Expressway.

At the invitation of Expressway Operation Maintenance and Management Division of the RDA, Sadaharitha Plantations Limited jointly launches a Highway Tree Planting Week and has offered 100 aquilaria plants. The tree planting activities took place in selected locations of the Southern Expressway from July 4 – 8, 2016. Marking this event plants were distributed to the Divisional Executive Engineer Offices at the Galanigama Expressway Interchange Office premises on Monday, July 4.

“Since 2010, the RDA has added greenery on the main roads and city roundabouts and isles. Today we have overcome a challenge in reforesting the Southern Expressway in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Our goal is to plant 50,000 trees in the RDA-owned properties situated on the wayside of the highway,” Director EOM and M Division Expressway Operation Maintenance and Management Division S. Opanayaka noted.

Drawing attention to the significant value of the project Sadaharitha Plantations Ltd Chairman Sathis Navarathne added, “We are more than happy to be part of this great effort. At Sadaharitha Plantations LTD we support efforts of bringing down carbon footprints every way we could, trees and forests are the most vital weapon we have against climate change.” Further elaborating on the importance of reforestation, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Forestry and Environmental Sciences Department Senior Lecturer Dr. Upul Subasinghe explained the importance of adopting to green economy concept using commercial valuable trees. Residents around the Galanigama area, Opanayaka, Nawarathne and Dr. Subasinghe graced the event.   See more

 

(Source :09/07/2016 Daily Mirror : http://www.dailymirror.lk/112228/RDA-announces-Highway-Tree-Planting-Week#sthash.d8Rj5HHp.dpuf)

Animal cruelty, weapons and national security

Photos of animal torturers go viral on social media: Animal cruelty, weapons and national security –

Animal cruelty, be it torture, slaughter or even caging for that matter has become a growing concern from around the world. At a time when animal rights activists have started voicing their concerns about allowing animals to coexist  with humans, it wasn’t before long that social media revealed footage of a group of people staring at a tortured sea-eagle. This was followed by a man holding a dead peacock with an air rifle in his hand whose wife was giving out numerous excuses to prove that the husband wasn’t guilty. Several months afterwards, quite shockingly, social media again succeeded in ‘naming and shaming’ a group of people who have been killing and torturing rare and endemic species of animals in the wild, for meat and for sheer thrill. In order to shed light on this latest incident, the Daily Mirror spoke to a few interested parties who voiced out their concerns.

These suspects can be arrested without a warrant : Jagath Gunawardena

Environmental lawyer and Attorney-at-law Jagath Gunawardena said that whatever the suspects have been doing were offences under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance. “For example, the barking deer is a strictly protected mammal and just for killing one of them, these suspects can be arrested. The other mammals are categorized as protected mammals but since they are offences, they can be arrested without a warrant. Another thing is the fact that these people have been using air rifles and spearguns which are not being mentioned in the Firearm Ordinance. Even the use of projectiles has not been specified. Therefore it has become easy for people like these suspects to kill animals in the wild without any objections. I suggest that it’s high time that the Firearm Ordinance is duly amended to include these weapons and ensure that all life is ultimately being protected. I also believe that many sophisticated people kill animals and engage in this kind of behaviour for their own entertainment and thrill.”   He further stated that there are limitations to killing animals such as wild boars and porcupines. “Although they are listed as non-protected mammals there are limitations to kill them. They can only be killed within a person’s personal property.  They cannot be killed during the night time, in a forest, near a waterfall etc. Also there are 8 non-protected mammals, 5 non-protected reptiles and 5 birds. But in whatever the case their flesh cannot be traded.

 

Excellent way of highlighting animal cruelty : Iromi Salgado

Speaking to the , Committee member of the Animal Welfare and Protection Association (AWPA) Iromi Salgado said that it was an excellent way of highlighting the cruelty that people wouldn’t otherwise have known. “If social media could be used this way it can really open the eyes of the public. Many people wouldn’t have known that these kinds of incidents actually take place. Although this incident had taken place several years back, I am happy that the authorities were able to get hold of the culprits. Animals are a part of our nature and we humans should start to coexist with them.”

“If social media could be used this way it can really open the eyes of the public”

Many people use air rifles to protect their cultivations : N. G Panditharathna

In his comments to the , N. G Panditharathna, Additional secretary, Civil Security and Development division at the Ministry of Defence said that people are allowed to import air rifles. “It is not a fire arm under the act and therefore many people use it in their cultivations. These were issued for coconut planters to use in their cultivations to protect them from animals such as monkeys. Once a dealer is registered under the agriculture department or the Coconut cultivation board, he can import these air rifles and distribute among their farmers. Humans cannot be killed unless shot from a close proximity. Usually animals are aimed at within a distance of 50m and this distance has little effect on killing the target.”

“These were issued for coconut planters to use in their cultivations to protect them from animals such as monkeys”

Anybody can possess air rifles without permits : Gamini Jayawickrama Perera

Speaking to the , Minister of Wildlife and Sustainable Development, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said that all suspects have been arrested and are being questioned. “No permits are needed to possess air rifles in Sri Lanka and this is starting to become a menace now. Anybody can get a stock of air rifles and even start shooting people. Why they use air rifles is due to the fact that it doesn’t produce any sound when killing a target. These people have killed rare species of animals as seen from the photos. We have to start respecting wildlife and treasure our flora and fauna.”

“No permits are needed to possess air rifles in Sri Lanka and this is starting to become a menace now”

The use of these weapons should be banned : Sagarika Rajakarunanayake

In her comments director of Sathva Mithra group and animal rights activist Sagarika Rajakarunanayake said that it was high time that these weapons were banned from use. “We need to find out who are purchasing these weapons and also who are selling them. It has been a horrible sight to see animals being tortured before they are being killed. The entire line of activity has to be traced because this is not the first time that such an incident took place.”

“We need to find out who are purchasing these weapons and also who are selling them”

 

 

Statement by Police Media Unit

According to a statement released by the Police Media Unit it mentioned that these suspects were residents of Panwila, Kandy and this incident had occured five years ago at St. John’s Estate in Madulkelle.
Six suspects in connection to the incident were arrested on Saturday and Sunday. Two air rifles, pellets and a gun have been taken into custody. The suspects were between ages 22 and 42 and they were produced at the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court on Sunday for further investigations.

Expose by a wildlife expert

A wildlife expert who wished to remain anonymous told the Daily Mirror  that air rifles were issued a few years back to coconut planters to protect their cultivations. The air rifles were used to chase away monkeys and many of them had been distributed at the time. “However the method of killing is immaterial because animals such as the barking deer are endemic species and are strictly protected under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance. These air rifles have now become more powerful because the barking deer is the size of a dog.”
In order to clarify this information the Daily Mirror tried to contact the Minister of Plantation Industries, Navin Dissanayake but learned that he was currently overseas and several attempts to contact Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries, Wasantha Lakshman Perera failed.

(Source: 5/7/2016 Daily Mirror : http://www.dailymirror.lk/112007/Photos-of-animal-torturers-go-viral-on-social-media-Animal-cruelty-weapons-and-national-security#sthash.KsLQliDZ.dpuf)

 

More teeth for animal protection legislation

While seeking legal advice to control the use of air guns which are used in sports, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Wildlife is to amend the existing Fauna and Flora Protection Act, which is outdated, to give more powers to deal with those slaughtering wild animals.

With the recent incident which went on viral on social media, of a number of youth killing wild animals mercilessly in the  forest, the Ministry has decided to impose stringent laws against those torturing, harassing and killing animals found in the wild.

The six suspects who have been arrested had killed several wild animals in the Knuckles Forest. The combined investigations by the Police and Wildlife Department have found that the six suspects are from wealthy families. They have been accused of torturing and killing deer and porcupines which are listed in the endangered species of the country.

The main suspect was arrested in Panwilla and two were arrested at St. John’s Estate in Madolkele and the other suspects have also been arrested by the police yesterday. The Police have also taken three firearms belonging to the suspects. “ We have taken action to give the maximum punishment to the six animal killers. But, in future we will increase the punishment by amending the existing wildlife protection laws to give these killers severe punishment, “ Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera told the Daily FT.

He said that he had directed the Police and the officials of the Department of Wildlife Conservation to arrest the six culprits including the owner of the 400-acre tea plantation, who has also taken part in the inhumane killing of wild animals. “They had been slaughtering wild animals for the last two-years. They had derived fun from harming and killing innocent animals. This is the second incident of slaughtering animals highlighted in social media. We need to introduce tough legal action against them before this becomes a habit among youth,” he stressed.

“I have instructed the legal unit of the Ministry to draft the amendments within a few months. Not only torturing animals, neglect of domesticated animals will also be looked into under the new amendments,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Minister Perera has also instructed the legal unit of the Ministry to prepare a paper to request the government to control the sale and use of all sports guns including the air guns soon.

“These weapons including air guns are freely available and even a school child can buy them now. These are high powered guns, which even can kill a person. There is a trend of using these guns now in Sri Lanka and it poses a security threat,” he said.

The Minister said that the government should bring laws to take all such weapons in use into custody and control imports and confiscate the existing such sports weapons belonging to persons who were not using them for sports.

“If they are used in sports, there should be laws to identify to whom these guns should be sold,” he said.

The suspects are to be remanded till 7 July. –

(Source 04/06/2016 Daily FT : http://www.ft.lk/article/552616/More-teeth-for-animal-protection-legislation#sthash.G4ergWwn.dpuf)

Laugfs Eco Sri distributes 5,000 plants under Green Guardian campaign

Officers should totally commit themselves to environmental conservation

Human – Leopard conflict

The Sri Lankan leopard, scientifically known as Panthera pardus kotiya has been listed as an endangered animal by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. While leopards are found across a large swathe of the island, they are mostly concentrated in the north west and the south east, areas corresponding to the Yala and Wilpattu National Parks. However, outside these protected areas, a significant leopard population is also found in the hill country. As forest areas in Sri Lanka’s hills have come under intense pressure with increased deforestation and encroachment, leopards and humans in the hills have been drawn into a one-sided conflict, with leopards being the clear loser.

Not conflict, but massacre

Over the past few weeks a spate of leopard killings have been reported in the hills. Senior environmental lawyer, Jagath Gunawardena is of the view that it is not actually a conflict between human beings and leopards, but that people deliberately kill leopards for the flesh and the skin.

Currently, less than 18% of the Hill Country is covered by natural forests, with villages, estates and small farms accounting for most of the area. Hence, as leopards wander into human areas they become easy targets.

 

“There is encroachment in the forests; there is illegal deforestation and forest fires. As a result, the animals are running out of space and food,” said Gunawardena.

Numbers

According to Gunawardena, even the reports stating that large numbers of leopards are being killed, are unreliable, and represent only a fraction of the total number of leopards actually killed.

“My suspicion is for every two killings reported, there may be one killing which goes unreported. Although harming or killing a leopard is a non bailable offence which carries a high penalty, people have not stopped committing such acts.”

Deforestation

Central Environmental Authority Board member, Ajitha De Costa explained that deforestation is not only a threat to the leopards, but also makes the land vulnerable to landslides and creates a shortage of water as well. “From Horton Plains to Haputale, the entire area is deforested. There is a high probability of the area facing landslides,” he said.

Pointing out that forest patches between estates have been cut by the villagers for firewood, thereby depriving the leopards of their habitat, De Costa says it is the fault of the people that has led to a series of issues.

He said, yet another reason for the decrease of leopards in the area covered by forests is forest fires. Forest fires often result due to attempts by residents to clear jungle areas for cultivation.

Jagath GunawardenaNimalka SanjeewaniPubudu Weeraratne

Awareness

(The one which underwent dental extraction and the other, sans claws!)

Outreach Officer of the Leopard Project, Nimalka Sanjeewani said, they are currently conducting public awareness programs via lectures, television programs and informal community based talks.

“The behaviour of the animal is such that they wander in search of food. With deforestation, they tend to come to villages. Leopards are active mostly at night, so we have advised people to keep their pets and other animals in cages since such animals can be easy prey for leopards,” she said.

According to Sanjeewani, the Leopard Project conducted by The Wilderness & Wildlife Conservation Trust intends to make the public aware through community awareness programs in border settlements and tea estate communities, and thereby attempt to reduce the numbers affected by the human-animal conflict.

Media’s responsibility

Head of the Biodiversity Conservation Centre, Pubudu Weeraratne criticized the media for creating the notion of a human-leopard conflict and fuelling fears of villagers.

“Media has not done what is expected of them. All they did was create more issues by scaring the public. The issue has been clearly blown out of proportions,” he said.

The long term survival of the hill country leopard populations is a complex and difficult task. Jagath Gunawardena however, believes, to mitigate the situation a holistic plan is needed. He says, the issue of leopard killings is yet a facet of the degradation and destruction of their habitat.

“Trying to find a solution only for the leopard issue will blind us to the bigger picture. If that is addressed then the other matters are invariably solved, he said.

Source : Sunday Observer 26/06/2015 http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2016/06/26/fea06.asp

Mangroves are a natural barrier against marine depredation:Dr. Donald Macintosh

Not being satisfied with just studying mangroves, Dr. Donald Macintosh has become a strong advocate, flying from country to country, to spread the message on their importance. Interestingly, the mud-crabs which riveted his attention as a youth and continue to do so, are known to crab-lovers as the ‘Sri Lankan jumbo crabs’, which are threatened by habitat loss and over-fishing. (See box please)

The most recent visit to Sri Lanka of 65-year-old Dr. Macintosh was in May, to make a presentation on ‘Mainstreaming biodiversity: Sustaining people and their livelihoods’ to commemorate the International Day for Biological Diversity, on the invitation of Biodiversity Sri Lanka.

The day after his presentation, it was an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times in the morning, before travelling deep-south to give his technical expertise on coastal development to two hotels in Weligama and Hambantota, after which it was back to base in Bangkok, Thailand, for he is Senior Advisor at ‘Mangroves For the Future’ (MFF) in the Asia Regional Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Before we focus on the importance of mangroves, we turn the spotlight on the ‘man amidst the mangroves’ who has been working in this wide field of mangrove ecosystem management and inextricably-linked coastal conservation and development including sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, for more than 35 years.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he smilingly points out that it “can’t get more Scottish than that” before he speaks briefly of his academic achievements. It was when he was taking a course in Tropical Biology at Aberdeen University that the “great diversity” of the subject dawned on him. Feeling the need to work in the tropics, he applied for a Commonwealth Scholarship, as there was a research link between the University of Aberdeen and the University of Malaya.

“Off I went to Malaysia as a 21-year-old, unsure about what I wanted to do,” he says, adding that he was able to secure one of four Commonwealth Scholarships offered.

The mangrove fascination gripped him when he was studying for his doctorate on the ‘Ecology of crabs living in mangroves’ at the University of Malaya. This was the 1970s, and there were only three people in the whole country who were interested in mangroves, laughs Dr. Macintosh, describing how the early interest in shrimp farming in mangroves began in Malaysia, which in turn led him to look at the ‘economic uses’ of mangroves. “Mangroves were arousing an interest among businessmen which was making governments also pay attention to them.”

Then back home to Scotland went Dr. Macintosh to Stirling University’s Institute of Aquaculture, taking a deep look at how mangrove aquaculture could be developed. “In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I was interested in developing the aquaculture potential such as shrimps, blood cockles and crabs in mangroves,” he says.

His personal life too had taken a different pathway as by this time he had married Sherry (“as in the wine,” he smiles) whom he met at the University of Malaya. Sherry who is from Malaysia is now retired after working as a Local Government Service Provision Officer in Scotland.

The stint at the Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling University, was followed by Dr. Macintosh donning the mantle of Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) Professor in Environment and Development at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, where he was also Director of the Centre for Tropical Ecosystems Research. Even though he is retired from there now, he remains an Adjunct Professor at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) near Bangkok.

He has also managed several large coastal development projects in Southeast Asia including as Senior Technical Advisor to ‘Support to the Marine Area Network’ in Vietnam, Consultant to the World Bank/DANIDA funded ‘Coastal Wetlands Protection and Development Project’ in the Mekong Delta; and Denmark’s Coordinator of a DANIDA-funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme at AIT.

From 2007 to 2011, meanwhile, Dr. Macintosh was the Regional Coordinator of MFF, a post-tsunami response involving Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia and Seychelles, and more recently also Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Going back in time to the deadly devastation of the tsunami, he says that the catch phrase put out by Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, Bill Clinton, was ‘To build back better’. This is apt – there was forward-thinking to put back something better to help the coastal communities along the Indian Ocean. MFF was launched in December 2006 by Bill Clinton in Phuket, Thailand, with the symbolic planting of mangroves, with funding from Scandinavia, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, with smaller amounts from Australia, Germany and United Nations Agencies.

“Now it is almost 10 years since the launch of MFF and there needs to be increasing private-sector support, for they need to stand up and be counted,” says Dr. Macintosh, reiterating that MFF should get localized, as ownership is important for sustainability. It should be a three-way joint effort – local businesses, local community and local government – while universities and media also play a vital role. Technical advice and other speciality advice may be secured from outside.

Thereafter, Dr. Macintosh launches into his favourite topic………mangroves which are not only effective in warding off the effects of a tsunami but are also an asset to have around in severe floods, typhoons or cyclones.

“The mangroves physically protect a coastline against wave surges created by storms, with tsunamis being an extreme version of it. The mangrove root system is dense and strong and acts as a physical barrier by absorbing the force of tidal-wave surges while the mangrove forest will also absorb wind energy up to a certain amount,” he says.

Dr. Macintosh speaks with evidence in hand that a 100-metre wide belt of mangroves will reduce the velocity of a storm wave by 90%. This has been measured, he says.

Making us take a closer look at mangroves, this expert points out that their dense root system binds the soil, reducing soil erosion. When sediments are washed by rivers to the coastal zone, a lot of it is trapped by this root system, so there is no destruction of corals by the sedimentation. The flow of fresh flood water from land to sea is also slowed by mangroves.

“Globally, we’ve fragmented the mangroves and now we have them in patches. Therefore, effectivity is diminished. There is an urgent need to recreate quite a significant belt,” says Dr. Macintosh, adding that mangroves are also valuable in supporting fisheries – shrimp, mud-crab and a large number of fish species. What we don’t think of is that mangroves also harbour many insects and birds, in an environment of rich biodiversity.

The protection of mangroves should be incentive-based and not regulated, he is quick to point out. Mangroves need protection and management in a way where communities benefit. This, in turn, becomes an incentive for the community to become the guardians of mangroves.

 

Protecting  our mud crab

Biodiversity is the ‘natural capital’ that we need to protect and use wisely, underscores Dr. Don Macintosh, pointing out that habitat and biodiversity loss and pollution are the widespread consequences of human activities. These impact on human health, food security and livelihoods while climate change and extreme weather patterns are adding to the threats faced by all natural ecosystems.

Dwelling on what the ‘ecosystem approach’ is, he says it is astrategy for integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.

Picking out the coastlines and seas within tropical Asia which are among the most productive and biodiversity-rich in the world, Dr. Macintosh explains that coral reefs and sea-grass beds provide the primary production and habitat needs of countless marine animal species, while mangrove ecosystems support hundreds of animal and plant species from diverse origins (marine, intertidal and terrestrial).

“Conserving these valuable, but fragile ecosystems and the biodiversity they support is made very challenging by a number of factors. They include the high levels of exploitation of aquatic species by coastal fishing communities and commercial fisheries and development pressures to increasingly urbanise and industrialise Asia’s coastal zones.”

Without sustainable (ecosystem-based) management, there is over-exploitation of natural resources; unplanned and unregulated coastal development; weak institutional responsibilities and poor governance which lead to habitat degradation, erosion, pollution, aquatic diseases and loss of valuable species, fisheries and livelihoods, it is learnt.

Here, Dr. Macintosh delves deep into the mangroves and picks up the mud-crab citing the case study of the ‘Sri Lankan jumbo crab’. Moving among mangroves, inshore and offshore habitats during its life history, which includes phases as a planktonic, crawling, burrowing and swimming organism, this iconic and valuable crustacean is severely threatened by habitat loss and over-fishing.

The mud-crab is the most mangrove-dependent fisheries resource supporting local livelihoods, but is severely over-fished, according to him.

“Immensely important to the food and livelihood security of millions of coastal- and river-dwelling people globally and especially across Asia, the commercial species are part of complex food webs. However, they have been heavily impacted by over-fishing, habitat loss or degradation and pollution,” laments this expert.

This is why Dr. Macintosh is urging a “common vision” for healthy coastal ecosystems, to bring about a more prosperous and secure future for coastal communities.

Otherwise, for Sri Lankans a sumptuous, finger-licking good crab curry may also become just a dream.

Source :2016:06:26 Sunday Times :http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160626/news/mangroves-are-a-natural-barrier-against-marine-depredation-expert-198790.html

Kelani River Conservation: The key to a bright future

By Yasara Kannangara and  Ananda Mallawatantri

Water is one of nature’s greatest gifts to humankind. However, wide scale pollution has made it apparent that this precious gift is often overlooked and neglected, as is the case of the Kelani River and its basin.

The Kelani River Basin Multi-Stakeholder Partnership is a project developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) using the local inputs of more than 60 agencies and international literature, under the supervision of the Central Environment Authority (CEA) with UNICEF funding to alleviate the disturbing levels of pollution in the Kelani River Basin. The plan spanning from 2016 to 2020 aims for the sustainable development of the basin through a range of catchment protection and strategic shifting from industrial base to nature base income sources capitalising on the thriving eco-tourism industry.

Being true to the famous saying of French writer, historian and philosopher Voltaire “Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experiences of others?” the multi-stakeholder also hopes to study and incorporate global experiences on river restoration to the project. Nevertheless in integrating these experiences the stakeholders also consider the social, economic, political and cultural relevance to the country.

Maintaining water quality is essential to achieve sustainability within the basin as it helps identify pollution types and potential sources. For example, high amount of sediments in water is an indication of agriculture or urban erosion issues whereas, the presence of high E.coli bacteria denotes poor sanitation facilities. This includes presence of sewage in the river.
The Thames-Sydenham Water Source Protection Programme is a project based in Ontario, Canada. It was established to counter similar issues and was aimed at decontaminating drinking water which was polluted due to improper sewage disposal. Through the project, definitive steps were taken to improve septic systems and other facilities. Similarly, it is imperative to build better facilities and sewage disposal methods in the Kelani River Basin as contamination of water with human waste is a pressing issue in the basin.

However, industrial pollution is the main cause that has led to the wide scale pollution in the area. Despite this, industries can be deemed as a necessary evil in today’s world. However, this does not mean that industries cannot exist side by side with nature. On the contrary, the Chesapeake Bay Programme in the United States has proved that industries and a pollution free environment can exist alongside one another. Despite the large number of industries in the area the bay remains to be one of the cleanest water bodies in the country. It is also home to a large scale seafood industry, especially in regard to crabs.
A venture such as this is at present impossible in the Kelani River as the water is contaminated with heavy metals which has had a

detrimental impact on the aquatic life forms in the river and will also adversely affect humans who consume them. However, the Chesapeake Bay lends the Kelani River hope that such a project to recreate a new image for the river is indeed possible. However, to achieve such a spectacle it is a must to ensure that all industries within the Kelani River adhere to the environment protection standards that are imposed by the CEA and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB).

The present water quality standards based on the American Public Health Association (APHA) have contributed much towards the reduction of pollution in the river but they are not without drawbacks. As such, the industry-centric nature of the standards can be regarded as the main weakness. Hence, to truly eradicate the contamination of the river an expansion in coverage is necessary. For this the multi-stakeholder partnership has adopted United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) derived water quality guidelines and management approaches as much as possible.

River bank erosion due to illegal sand mining is also a major threat to the water quality of the river. To prevent this, the stakeholders have proposed to establish a sand mining monitoring police unit. The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) for Ganga River Basin in India is an instance where such actions have been successful. Under this project, a National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was set up to plan, finance, monitor and co-ordinate the effective abatement of pollution and the conservation of the river.

Additionally, the limited amount of sampling sites for water quality is also a drawback in safeguarding the resilience of the basin. While there are 13 existing sampling locations they only cover part of the basin. This is not adequate to ensure water quality in the entire river. Therefore, new sampling sites should also be established. Automation is an option that is being considered to achieve these objectives with ease.

Although, the initial cost of water quality monitoring may seem excessive at a glance it can be regarded as a worthwhile investment. This is because monitoring the quality of water ensures water safety. Sri Lanka already spends an exorbitant amount of money on health issues such as kidney diseases linked with water pollution. If the situation remains unchanged the cost of health will only rise higher and higher. Hence, the amount to be spent can hardly be predicted or calculated. In such a circumstance, implementing measures to examine water quality can be seen as a long-term solution.

Implementing water quality standards is a challenging task. For this constant monitoring of water is indispensable. The KRMP approach intends to seek expand the present water monitoring by CEA, National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) and Irrigation Department with the help of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and other institutions including universities.
Moreover, the Kelani River Basin can be described as a nature lover’s paradise even with the massive pollution as it lays claim to a myriad of scenic locations that are abundant in natural splendour. However, this reputation enjoyed by the basin is fast diminishing. Despite being a place of natural beauty the potential of the Kelani River Basin remains largely untapped. Indeed, the basin encompasses many attractions with the Kithulgala/Kelani Forest Reserve, Muturajawela wetlands, Negombo and Sithawaka Botanical Gardens being only few of the locations.

The river also contains international level rapids that are suitable for white water rafting. Yet, it is a far cry from being an ecotourism hotspot. The KRMP approach was partly influenced by the “Healthy Parks Healthy People” initiative in Australia and Bhutan’s concept of “Gross National Happiness”. They highlight that nature and happiness are entwined hopes to create an environment which is conducive to both physical and mental wellbeing through nature. By doing so the project envisions a future free of pollution and related diseases while ensuring the income base in the basin improved.

(Yasara Kannangara is a student  in languages and Ananda Mallawatantri is the Country Representative  of IUCN Sri Lanka)

Source : 26/06/2016  : Sunday Times  http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160626/sunday-times-2/kelani-river-conservation-the-key-to-a-bright-future-198756.html

Uma Oya Project Throws Up Fresh Challenges

Naturalist Indaka Kamaladasa, a resident of the area, told The Sunday Leaderthat a number of brooks and wells have dried up within the last 10 days. He warns that the trend could worsen.

“We are experiencing a similar situation that occurred when the project was commenced in January 2014. We fear that if the right measures are not taken immediately, the situation will worsen,” he stressed.

When contacted, Oma Oya Project Director Dr. Sunil de Silva said they were aware of such problems but considering the socio-environmental issues, they were cautious in carrying out their task. He added that they were taking all possible measures to minimise the impact.

He said that usually between July and August, wells dry up because of the hot weather conditions.

Tunnelling in Uma Oya continues despite more wells turning dry in the Heel Oya area in Bandarawela. The report submitted to the Supreme Court shows that original ingress of water (450 L/s) was reduced to 60/70 L/s before sealing and after sealing it reduced to 47 L/s. However, when the drilling operation continued, it has increased to 110 to 125 L/s. This proves that they are tunnelling through the shallow water aquifer, says Hemantha Withanage, the Executive Director, the Centre for Environmental Justice and Director Friends of Earth (FoE), Sri Lanka

“It is evident that since restarting the tunnelling in January 2016, more than 20 wells along the tunnel have dried up. This is a serious ecosystem damage that should be immediately stopped and the tunnel needs to be redesigned. If not this mountain ecosystem will be seriously damaged. This is clear ignorance of the monitoring bodies including the Central Environment Authority (CEA), Withanage added.

The Uma Oya tunnel is being constructed to bring Uma Oya water to ‘Ali Kota Ara’ in the Kirindi Oya river basin. It was designed to drill about 300 meters underground to have approximately 600 m head to generate maximum electricity, he said.

The tunnel collapsed in the Heel Oya area in December 2014 and more than 2500 houses got damaged, while 17 of these are not conducive for living in anymore.

“Hundreds of drinking water wells dried up in a few hours. Since then people were provided with a limited amount of water. No compensation has been paid so far,” Withanage added.

He noted that the ecosystem damage is far more serious than the damage to the people. The tunnelling has resulted in breaking the limestone soil structure. It has damaged the water aquifers in the area. Even if the tunnel is completely sealed, it will not repair this soil structure.

He also pointed out that some officers assure people that the water table will be regenerated. Even if the sealing is done, it does not ensure that the water table can be regenerated, as there may be many internal changes of the aquifer. The new document claims that sealing has fixed things where the confining layer was pierced. However, that may not last long if any cracks develop in the material.

The majority in the affected areas are farmers. Even the others who are engaged in employments used to cultivate vegetables to earn an extra income and to consume, he says.

Drying up of water springs, streams and other natural water sources resulted in the farmers having difficulties in cultivating in the last four seasons from December 26, 2014. It is unfortunate that the government turns a blind eye to the issue which is a life and death situation for the villagers.

CEA officials said that the project contractors had not properly followed the conditions in the final EIA approval.

“They have not followed environmental standards that the EIA mentions,” they said, adding that the project contractors had violated a main condition of drilling and blasting in the presence of the officials from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB).

Referring to the earlier problems and the repetition, they said that this unexpected disaster – cracking of houses, and wells and springs running dry – occurred as they had not followed the conditions given in the EIA.

Project Director Dr. De Silva said that the initial study was carried out by Lahmeyer International from Germany in 1987 and another study was done by a German consultancy firm in 1989.

Dr. De Silva said that after the final report was submitted, the public was given time to lodge their comments. “The CEA received over 110 public comments from many environment, farmer community organisations and villagers. The CEA studied all those and approved the EIA in 2011. Accordingly, three years was given to the project to get proceed. The members of the CEA’s monitoring committee visited the project site and gave another three years till 2017 and recommended to implement some conditions in July 2014,” he said.

Construction apart from essential works required to prevent the risk by sealing the water ingress in the head race tunnel, have been temporally suspended since February 16 until a decision is made according to the recommendations of the Central Environmental Authority and the Special Intellectual Committee appointed in this regard. The respective reports have now been issued and many measures have been recommended to rectify the problems. Many of the recommendations are to be carried out by the contractor, and the government plans to arrange a post-inspection mechanism to prevent such situations in the future. President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, recently visited the people affected by the project and assured them that the government will address their grievances. He instructed officials to immediately provide a report on the progress of the project, financial situation, and relevant public views. The multi-purpose project involves the construction of two reservoirs on tributaries of the Uma Oya, which flow from the central hills and join the Mahaweli River, and one tunnel of the Uma Oya to divert water to a power generator further downstream.

The water will be diverted to Kirindi Oya basin which will take water to Hambantota through the 25 km long underground tunnel across mountains in Bandarawela by constructing a dam at Puhulpola in Welimada and a reservoir in Diaraba. The proposal that President Sirisena made to rebuild about 600 destructed houses and to continuously provide drinking water for the affected families by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has received approval from the Cabinet.

Secretary of the Environment and Mahaweli Development Ministry Nihal Rupasinghe said priority had been given to repair the tunnel leakage since it was causing significant damage to water resources. He said there were no immediate plans to relocate villagers, but Rs. 25 million had been released along with instructions to the AG to compensate for the damaged houses.

“We will consider relocation as well,” he said and added that the project authorities had been asked to rectify the damages before they proceed with the project.

“We are waiting for a comprehensive report from the expert panel. Once we received it, we would submit it to the Cabinet sub-committee,” Rupasinghe said.

The report will be prepared by the experts of the CEA, National Building Research Organisation, and GSMB. A team from the University of Peradeniya will also support in this regard.

Sajeewa Chamikara of the Environment Conservation Trust has also urged the government to stop the project since it would cause a huge disaster. He said that the main cause of the present situation is due to the construction of tunnels to carry water from Puhul Oya reservoir to Dyraaba reservoir.

“They have completed 16 per cent of the tunnel. When the 26 km-long tunnel is completed, the hilly areas of the Uva Province will be prone to severe landslides as constructions is carried out,” he warned.

“Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the CEA should be held responsible for putting people in danger by implementing this failed project,” Chamikara stressed.

Civil organisations, environmentalists and people in Bandarawela staged several protests demanding to close the project and urged the government to protect them. They have now decided to continue with their protests until the government take a stern decision on the issue.

Last year, the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) and the Department of Valuation were asked to carry out an assessment of damage in order to compensate for properties including 1,500 houses affected by the Uma Oya project. Accordingly, they have recommended a payment of Rs. 200 million to be made.

Two roller compact concrete dams, an underground 134-MW capacity hydropower plant, and 25-Km underground tunnel.

Once completed, the project would irrigate 5,000 hectares of agricultural land.

The project is estimated to cost USD 529 million. The government will meet 15 per cent of the cost while the Export Development Bank of Iran will grant USD 450 as a loan.

During a visit of the former Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in 2008, an agreement was signed to provide financial and technical assistance to Uma Oya project.

“The contractors have done a lot of damage by not adhering to the environment plan,” Rupasinghe said. He, however, stressed that the project is feasible.

“There is nothing wrong with the project. Similar issues cropped up when other hydro projects like the Victoria Dam was under construction,” he said.

The contractor, FARAB Energy and Water Project Company, an Iranian company, is responsible for carrying out the project.

President Sirisena appointed a five-member Cabinet sub-committee last year to make recommendations. Rs. 300 million has also been allocated to provide reliefs to the affected people. The sub-committee was comprised of Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka, Internal Transport Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara, State Minister of Housing and Samurdhi Dilan Perera, and  Minister Harin Fernando

Source : 26/06/2016 Sunday Leader http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/06/26/uma-oya-project-throws-up-fresh-challenges/