Permits introduced to remove sand in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 September 2003, 22:01 GMT]
At a conference summoned by the Point Pedro Magistrate, Mr.K.Ariyanayagam, Thursday, it was decided to introduce a permit system to remove sand for local building construction purposes in the Amban and Kudathanai areas in the Vadamaradchi east division with effect from next week, civil sources said.

This decision was made to put a stop to mass scale illicit removal of sand from the northern coastal area in lorries brought from outside the peninsula by influential persons, violating a temporary ban on sand removal, civil sources said.

The temporary ban on sand removal would be lifted from next week in the Vadamaradchi division and permits will be issued to remove sand to assist local construction works, sources said

The conference was held in the Point Pedro court complex Thursday and was attended by the Vadamaradchi south Divisional Secretary, Mr. S.Kanagaretnam, Point Pedro Divisional Secretary, Mr. S.Sivasamy, and Vadamaradchi east Divisional Secretary, Mr.K.Velauthapillai.

The participants accepted the suggestion made the Magistrate that permits should be issued to the people of the area to remove coastal sand from Amban and Kudaththanai and to transport the sand by road to the site of construction, sources said.

Accordingly permits will be issued from next week, and the permits could be obtained from the divisional secretariats and offices of assistant government agents in the division, sources said.

Environmentalists and other public organizations recently raised objection to the removal of coastal sand as it would lead to sea erosion and damage the eco-system of the area, sources said. However a group of environmentalists and geologists recommended to the Jaffna Government Agent that no such damage to environment would take place by removing sand for local building construction purpose, sources said.

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