Rock blasts threaten rare fish with extinction

Priyanka Kurugala

[ Gadaya]

*Found in Lanka for 20 years

* Sterilizing fish

* Deep water fish

Rock blasting at the centre of the Mahaweli Ganga at Getambe by a private institution in violation of a ban imposed by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is posing a threat to a rare fish species known as Gadaya (Labeo fisheri), said Zoological researcher Pradeep Samarawickrama.

He said the blasting is being carried out by this institution for a proposed mini hydro power plant. The CEA chairman has ordered the party concerned to halt the blasting , but the work was suspended for 10 minutes only, on Monday, he said.

“Gadaya has been reported in Sri Lanka 20 years ago. But this variety cannot be found in the area today. Therefore this species is entered in the Red Data book as a sterilizing fish,” he said.

“After 20 years three dead fish of this variety had been found floating in the Mahaweli Ganga,” he said.

Rapidly flowing deep water is the natural habitation of this fish species. This area has been identified as a landslide prone area. Therefore construction has been banned in these areas. An entire family had been buried due to a previous landslide.

Residents also protest against this exercise which has caused them insecurity.

Nevertheless this company is not paying heed to these protests and are continuing with their construction programmes, he said.

Central Environment Authority Chairman Dr Charitha Herath said that, permission which has been granted to continue the constructions has been stopped. It had not been extended. Environmental Lawyer Jagath Gunawardana said, according to the National Environmental Act no project should be started without environmental clearance.

In this instance the clearance that was given in 2007 expired last year. It is praiseworthy that Chairman of the Central Environment Authority has taken action to prevent environmental damage.

Responding to the Daily News, a spokesman of the constructing company said the blasting has been stopped on the orders of the Central Environment Authority. The company is awaiting the advice of the CEA to commence the construction programmes again.

Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority Director Environment A M K B Attanayake said that, the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority is the approved agent of this project. Therefore, constructors should work under the approval of the Central Environment Authority. First the CEA had allowed to commence this project and on the second occasion not extended the permission to continue the project up to now. Nor have they stopped or suspended the project.He further said that, the Mahaweli Authority is involved in investigating about the threat posed to “Gadaya”. However their team was unable to uncover such a species.

“We can’t say whether or not there is Gadaya. Action should be taken either to continue or stop the project after conducting a systematic study.