The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) has decided to issue permission for sand mining in Mahaweli from 06th June.
The Chairman of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau Asela Iddawela said this decision was taken after a meeting chaired by the Governor of the Central Province, Rohitha Bogollagama.
Explaining further the Chairman said he took steps to halt river sand mining in the Trincomalee area on the 6th of April due to the complaints received that the sand mining activities are damaging the eco system.
After stopping the sand mining in the Mahaweli River, the Chairman has assigned a geology group in the Bureau to conduct a systematic inquiry into the problem. The group for over a month has examined the river using modern technology.
The report prepared by the expert group has been presented at a meeting held by the divisional secretary at the Divisional Secretariat in Seruwila on the 26th with the participation of Divisional Secretaries, environmentalists, sand mining license holders and political leaders of the area.
Several ideas have been put forward at the meeting and following consideration of the ideas, the authorities including the Governor has decided to issue permits for sand mining in Mahaweli River.
The report has confirmed that the current practice of sand mining is problematic and therefore, steps will be taken to regulate it immediately, the official said.
They have also decided not to reissue permits to sand miners who are damaging the environment and to close some of the mining sites.
The report has shown that it is possible to extract about 230,000 cubes of sand in a systematic way and the Bureau has decided to allow the local miners to excavate the new sand deposits in order to uplift the rural economy.
As the report has pointed out, some areas need to be reconstructed soon and under the instructions of the President, a special committee of Sri Lanka Navy will be appointed to monitor the sand mining in Mahaweli River.
The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau will continue to monitor the process and ensure that all these issues are met. A follow-up task force is to be set up to further monitor the sand mining process.
