Jaffna MP accuses EPDP of illegal sand excavation in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 April 2010, 05:38 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna parliamentarian, E. Saravanbhavan publicly raised accusation against Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), a constituent party of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), for having appropriated exclusive rights to excavate sand for building construction in Ma’nattkaadu in Vadamaraadchi East using illegal means making millions of rupees, in a press report, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, EPDP Minister Dougals Devananda, in response to Saravanabhavan’s accusation, said that the EPDP firm engaged in sand excavation is registered in Sri Lanka parliament and the increase in the demand for sand is due to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) permitting only a limited number of lorries to transport sand from Ma’nattkaadu SLA High Security Zone (HSZ), in a media report, the sources added.

Saravnabhavan said that ordinary people who need sand being unable to get permits legally are forced to buy sand from the private dealers.

The EPDP firm called ‘Maheswary Funds’, named after assassinated EPDP organizer Maheswaray Vealautham, has procured exclusive rights to excavate sand in Ma’nattkaadu sidestepping Jaffna Secretariat and Point Pedro Divisional Secretariat authorities which issue permit to excavate sand in the said area.

Saravanabhavan had accused that ‘Maheswary Funds’ was an unregistered firm and its excavation of sand illegal.

Sand for building construction purposes is in high demand in Jaffna peninsula as the other places for sand excavation in Kachchaay in Thenmaraadchi, Ariyaalai in Jaffna and Man’kumpaan in the islets of Jaffna where sand excavation is banned by occupying SLA forces.

This leaves only Ma’natkaadu where sand could be excavated and the SLA restriction on the number of lorries allowed to transport has created an artificial shortage of sand for construction in the peninsula.

The EPDP firm is accused of selling sand to private construction firms making millions of rupees, according to Saravanabhavan.