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Coconut Triangle a desert soon if fragmentation of fertile lands continue

Kuliyapitiya group correspondent

The entire Coconut Triangle would be reduced into a desert if the fragmentation of fertile coconut lands continued at the present rate, Kuliyapitiya PS member Y. M. Senaratne (PA) said.

He was speaking at the sabha's monthly meeting presided by Chairman Sarath Dayawansa Narasinghe (UNP).

Bandula Senaratna (UNP) said an explanation is necessary on acquiring the blocks of lands for the Sabha blocked out for sale in an estate at Horombawa.

"People suspect of a foul play in that," he said.

The Chairman said the Sabha acquired two blocks of lands, one facing the highway. The other is from the middle of the land. That will be developed as a playground, he said. M. N. Naseer (UNP) said if the block facing Kurunegala-Kuliyapitiya Main Road was acquired the Sabha could put up trade stalls in it.

I. A. Premadasa (PA) said: "We consider only what we get through the fragmentation of lands. The environmental and economic impact on this is not taken into consideration. Almost all the coconut trees in big estates are uprooted. That hits our economy adversely, and we would be compelled to import coconuts even for consumption before long."

Manoj Premaratna (PA) said a land from Weralugama was blockd out and sold.

According to the publicity campaign carried out by the company, there was pipe-borne water in that land. Those deceived by the propaganda bought the blocks from that land. At the end, they found that not even well water was available instead of pipe-borne water. There is a thick metal layer below the surface of the land, so no wells could be dug. Can't the Sabha solve their water problem?, he asked.

The Chairman said according to the by-laws, the company that blocked the land is bound to provide water if pipe-borne water was not available.

Vice Chairman Mahinda Pushpakumara (UNP) said the fragmentation of lands is a headache to the Sabha.

"In a village where there were only 30 to 40 families, another few hundreds of families would come to live. The Sabha has to provide facilities for all of them. I can't understand who recommended the blocking of fertile coconut lands," he said.

Y. M. Senaratne (PA) said coconut plantation's future in danger due to the land sales business. The present society considers money above all, so the coconut plantation will come to a tragic end reducing the Coconut Triangle into a desert, he said.

M. M. A. Premaratna (UNP) said coconut smallholders now sell not coconuts but coconut trees. Instead of copra, D/C and coconut oil industry, the coconut timber industry has come up. Coconut plantation is to be developed to boost the rural economy. The Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) is asleep at this critical stage, he said.

Jayawardhana Handun Pathiraja (JVP) said the selling of coconut trees for timber is a matter beyond the CCB's control. That is a result of economic backwardness. The CCB does not recommend to block out fertile coconut lands. When the Board receives the application, it issues a feasibility report. The Board recommends to block out infertile barren lands with S-4 and S-5 soil conditions, he said.

The Chairman said the member is a CDO at the CCB.

"I have a plan to introduce a home garden coconut plantation project with his help," he said.

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