by Ifham Nizam
- There is no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or any other assessment up to half a million liters of ground water
- Villagers complained that the water provided by (Maha Oya) is not entirely clean and so they are reluctant to use it as it can affect their health and well being
- While one side of the Kithulkanda is covered with green vegetation, the other half is the ongoing devastating metal quarries
Scientists and environmentalists are to strongly urge state sector policy makers to introduce a system or regulation to monitor ground water extraction. There are fears on some firms, especially foreign organizations, exploiting the loopholes in the country.Speaking to The Sunday Leader, a senior scientist pointed out that there is no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or any other assessment up to half a million liters of ground water, terming it is absurd as the quantity is high. And also, even for more than half million liters of water, there is no regulation or system to continue the process for annual or monthly monitoring, etc.
Civic minded orgnisations are considering litigation against a foreign firm that is exploiting ground water in Sri Lanka. An official stressed that the government should think of new laws, especially considering factors like climate change. Failing which, international laws would be applicable, she stressed.
She also said that only 16 Sri Lankans were employed at this factory. “When we have grave water issues …it is unfair to allow a foreign firm to exploit,” she stressed.
However, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) Chairman, Dr. D. M. D. O. K. Dissanayake told The Sunday Leader that they have powers when it comes to ground water. The Central Environment Authority (CEA) Chairman Professor Lal Mervin Dharmasiri, despite repeated attempts, said that he is attending a meeting.
A team of experts of the Environment Foundation Limited (EFL) earlier this week visited an area where the Dabur fruit juice factory at Kotadeniyawa is located.
An official told The Sunday Leader: “We toured around the vicinity of it and observed the land use types and spoke with some of the villagers. We met with Mr. Mansoor and his wife – owners of a plantation next to the factory – who have filed two court cases previously. Mr. Mansoor briefed us on the details of them and the issue of the over extraction of ground water in general by the Dabur factory.”
According to Mansoor, Dabur Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. with the assistance of the National Water Services and Drainage Board – NWSDB - has established three water pumps within the premises for the past three months.
However, the use of these pumps has temporarily been halted due to the much voiced concerns and protests held by the community in Kotadeniyawa.
Most villagers complained of the shortage of water and the depletion of paddy and coconut yield since the inception of the factory.
Scientists also observed how most wells adjacent to the factory have dried out. Even the surrounding vegetation and paddy fields were dry and drab due to the inadequacy of groundwater.
“At one paddy field we visited, we were informed that usually they produce nearly 1,700kg of paddy per season. Now they are only able to yield 800kg. We also noticed the Kuda Oya, flowing nearby the factory. It had less water than usual -according to the villager – during the drought. Again, this change was seen after the construction of the factory,” an official said.
The Sunday Leader learns that as compensation the villagers were provided with two tanks (2,000 liters) per week by the District Secretariat of Divulapitiya.
However, this isn’t really adequate to fulfill their daily needs and so the villagers have to resort to paying and buying more water privately. On top of this, villagers complained that the water provided by (Maha Oya) is not entirely clean and so they are reluctant to use it as it can affect their health and well being, especially the children. Meanwhile, more damages are caused to the water resources by destructing the environment and water bodies.
Meepe is located about 30 km from Colombo in the periphery of the Colombo District. Pitumpe is about 1.5 km from the Meepe junction in the main Colombo-Awissawella road. The area is blessed with natural picturesque landscapes and ample self sustaining potential due to its natural resources.
Furthermore, the area is comprised of small to medium size hills with natural vegetation. These hills perform as the main watersheds of the small streams which provide water to the area, for the social, economical and environmental needs.
One of these hills is Kithulkanda, with very rich vegetation which havens a number of endemic flora and fauna including the rare purple face langur.
In late March Environment Foundation Limited (EFL) received a complaint from Protest Sri Lanka organisation re 16 metal quarries operated in the area on one side of the Kithulkanda, which deprives the right of villagers to clean water and healthy environment.
These metal quarries not only posed a public nuisance issue in relation to dust, noise and damage to nearby houses, but also they destroy one of the key watersheds to the area. While one side of the Kithulkanda is covered with green vegetation, the other half is the ongoing devastating metal quarries. It is no brainer that with the cutting down of the Kithulkanda, there will be a huge water issue in the area.
Metal is a requirement to the construction industry of the country. However harvesting them without jeopardizing the subsistence of people is key to sustainable development.
Disturbance of the Riverbed
With the accumulation of chemical and solid waste in the river, the effects of constructions and development in very close proximity to the river have led to the destruction of river bank stability.
The natural formation of levees, a depositional landform created from the accumulation of soil on the river bank, is hindered due to various human activities. During times of flood these levees are built and over time act as a buffer to further flooding.
Human activities are hindrance to this natural pattern. Levees also contain nutrient rich soil which can be used for gardening and agriculture but due to the dumping of garbage the soil is contaminated with harmful substances.
The State Land Ordinance No. 08 of 1947 is the legislation to make provisions for the granting, management, protection and control of the State lands and foreshore of Sri Lanka, including the regulation of water bodies and other related matters.
This legislation allows the use of public streams and lakes by those occupying riverbanks for the use of riparian activities such as livestock herding, agriculture and domestic use. However, it prohibits the diversion of water through mechanized means (i.e. – pump, drain, pipe, etc.) and only through physical means such as a bucket. It also declares that the bed of a public lake or public stream is the property of the State.
Under Section 75 of the State Land Ordinance it is stated that ‘no person shall -
(a) divert any water from a public lake or public stream; or
(b) construct or maintain any work in, or upon the bank of, any public lake or public stream; or
(c) construct or maintain any bridge or causeway in or over a public lake or public stream’.
In addition to the State Land Ordinance other legislations such as: Land Settlement Ordinance – No. 20 of 1931; Land Development Ordinance – No. 19 of 1935; and Land Acquisition Act – No. 09 of 1950, are freely available to the public, explaining the correct procedure and regulations for the acquisition and development of land.