Geographical landmarks to be mapped

MOHAMMED NAALIR

The Urban Development and Sacred Area Development (UDSAD) Ministry with a view to expediting development and to use the error free geographical information has decided to map geographical landmarks.

The UDSAD has decided to implement this project with the assistance of the Surveyors Department under the supervision of Urban Development Authority. The Government has received euro 6.5 million for this project.

The new project has been named the Information Grid Project for rehabilitation Supervision.

The official inauguration ceremony of the project was held at the Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry under the patronage of Minister Dinesh Gunawardane with the participation of Land and Land Development Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga and French Ambassador for Sri Lanka Mickel Lummeks. Minister Gunawardane said that many problems that had arisen with the development process could be minimised by the mapping programme.

It is aimed to use the centre to provide information to achieve sustainable urban development. As the geographical land marks were not taken into consideration Sri Lanka has faced several natural disasters in the past, Minister Gunawardane added.

The number of natural disasters also have increased in the recent past. This was the prime reason to draw an error free geographical map, Minister Gunawardane added. Moves are under way to commence training courses by the information unit of the Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry to conduct surveys in the SAARC region parallel to the programme. The Authority has decided to, provide opportunities to local and foreign persons to conduct courses.

In the first phase Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts have been selected for the project. In addition, 40 main cities too have been selected to be mapped. Structures. Areas which are frequently subjected to frequent natural disasters too could be easily identified.