CEA branch offices in Kantale

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka yesterday made a pledge to the public of Kantale that he will take steps to establish branch offices of the Central Environment Authority and the Geological Surveys and Mines Bureau in Kantale with immediate effect.

Minister Ranawaka said that he had decided to set up the branches of the CEO and GSMB to provide speeding solutions to various environmental and social issues affecting Kantale and surrounding areas.

The Minister said this at Kantale participating in the third programme of “Sathata Setha, Amathi Gamata”, also known as the Environment Ministry mobile service, where the Minister goes out to meet the people and discuss their problems and other issues affecting their areas.

The programme paves the way for the public to discuss their matters directly with ministry officials and heads of departments affiliated to it or the minister himself. Unplanned sand mining is a major problem affecting Kantale.

The problems stem from public settlements in the Wildlife Conservation Department owned lands Additional Secretary to the Minister W.M.Wijesuriya said. It was revealed that the Trincomalee District Secretary has allocated a plot of land for the establishment of the Central Environment Authority branch at Kantale.

Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry is looking for a temporary office to carry out the functions of Geological Surveys and Mines Bureau in the Trincomalee district, Ministry sources said.This is in order to commence activities of the GSMB without delay. A permanent office will be established once the Ministry receives a suitable land.