Soil excavation by SLA ruins fertile fields

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:15 GMT]
Mr.V. Shanmugam, President of the Thenmaradchchi-Mirusuvil Farmers Associations' Federation Monday expressed deep concern that several acres of fertile paddy fields are ruined following excavation of soil by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). SLA soldiers use soil from paddy fields to build earth bunds and to strengthen their bunkers and sentry points, civil sources said.

Mr Shanmugam further said that SLA action is destroying natural and mineral resources of the area. Cash and paddy crops in these lands are destroyed due to water stagnating in the areas where excavation is taking place, he pointed out to the authorities.

Meanwhile, eighty seven percent of wells in the south of Kudarappu, Kudathanai, Amban, Mamunai and Sembianpattu in the Vadamaradchchi east division are reported to have become saline due to sea water stagnation at Nagarkovil area from the lagoon which stretches from Thondamannaru to Chundikulam, civil sources said.

The SLA declared Nagarkovil area as the high security zone on 27th March 2000. Since then the flow of seawater was almost stopped between Maruthankerni Bridge and Nagarkovil due to construction of sand bunds in several places by the SLA.