Construction of mini hydro power plant :
Project halted posing more problems
Priyanka KURUGALA
Following our page one story of August 5 headlined 'Rock blast
threaten rare fish with extinction', construction work of the proposed
mini hydro power plant has been suspended even though the villagers are
faced with another problem having been deprived of their public
playground and community centre to make way for the construction of
offices and living quarters for the construction company staff.
Warathenna Wimalabuddhi Temple Chief Incumbent Ven Maldeniye Samitha
Thera told the Daily News that they were not only facing an
environmental threat with the danger of landslides and the loss of
endemic fish but are now forced to give up their playground despite
residents' protests.
"This site is the most important area of the Mahaweli Ganga. We have
now also lost our playground," the Thera said. "This playground was the
place where the villagers held their New Year festival and other
meetings in the village," the Thera added. Warathenna Sports Club member
A.S.P.K. Jayawardana said by now, the construction company has taken
over the Community Hall with the nameboard "stores" already hanging on
the building. He said the Harispaththuwa Divisional Secretary has given
permission to the construction staff to use the playground for their
needs and he has ordered children to play on the main road.
Harispaththuwa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Ananda Jayavilal said that
the Harispaththuwa Divisional Secretary had allowed the playground to be
used for constructors of the mini hydro power plant before the present
Local Council assumed office with the approval of the CEO and SLMA.
"However the Pradeshiya Sabha protested against these activities," he
said.
The Harispathtuwa Pradeshiya Sabha will protect the playground for
the villagers and stop the construction of the proposed offices of the
construction company, he said.
"This area has been identified as a landslide area. If the proposed
dam is constructed, the main road will also be damaged," Jayavilal said.
Harispattuwa Divisional Secretary A.T.W. Ariyawansa said that the
playground belongs to the Local Council.
"But the ground is situated near the river. The children never used
this ground to play. The construction company has requested only for the
temporary use of this ground. They have promised to repair the ground
after the construction," Ariyawansa said.
"It is not true that I ordered children to play on the road," he
said. |