PARLIAMENT

Environmental regulations not breached - Minister S M Chandrasena

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 9.30 am yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the finance heads of the Agrarian Services and Wildlife, Environment, Land and Land Development Ministry during the committee stage of the Appropriation Bill 2012.

Sajith Premadasa (UNP): The Agrarian Services Act had been amended recently and the House had passed it with amendments. However, I observe that articles in the Act which mostly affected the tenant farmers, had not been amended. These articles which had been introduced in year 2000, still remains. Therefore, I would like to note that the rights of the tenant farmers have still not been protected. I would like to request the minister to amend this Act once again with the recommendation and observations that I had presented.

I commend the fertilizer subsidy provided to farmers and I also observe that it had been of great help to the farmers. However, at present there has been a curtailment of this subsidy.

Environment Deputy Minister Abdul Cardar: The attention of the world had been placed to the frequent occurrences of natural disasters. This has happened due to the climatic changes that we encounter today, as a result of global warming.

Sri Lanka has been actively participating in local and global forums to discuss current environmental issues. The country is following a strategic plan towards adaptation and mitigation of climate changes and various other environmental catastrophies. All the seven affiliated institutions of the Environment Ministry are working in collaboration and decisions arrived at after obtaining the approval of all stakeholders.

Chandrakumar Murugesu (UPFA): Today, the government has tabled the LLRC report. We greatly appreciate this move. This has been a historical step towards a permanent solution to the ethnic issue in the country.

I believe that the recommendations containing would be implemented shortly. There have been rumours that the government was not going to present it to Parliament. But now these doubts have been quashed. This report includes views and observations of all ethnic groups. This provides answers to many ministries and allegations levelled against the country.

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (UNP): Human-elephant conflicts have been raging in the country. Certain Buddhist monks had isolated juvenile elephants and elephant calves from their mothers and had kept them hidden in temples. These types of incidents were not suitable for a Buddhist monk. This is a pathetic situation. Elephants are sensitive animals and since history, we have honoured these creatures. It is the humans who aggravate the human-elephant conflict.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena: We have not breached any environmental regulations or laws in the country. We have not permitted illegal sandmining. Some MPs said that certain VIPs were in possession of elephants. If they say so, I request them to handover a name list of such elephants. We should be informed of the Buddhist monks who have been hiding baby elephants.

Through this budget, we have been allocated money for four elephant conservation centres. We will build stone walls instead of electrified fences in selected places.

Now we have selected about 3,000 acres of land to provide those elephants with plenty of food and water, obtained from farmers, so that farmers too would gain by it.

We have plans to erect electrified fences for another 1,000 km. Upto now there were only 1,500 km of electrified tenus in the country.

The President has presently given us a month's grace period before the new regulations concerning the plastic crates are to be initiated. Even selected vegetables have been exempted from this rule. We will take measures to distribute these plastic crates free to farmers when necessary.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair.

S M Chandrasena: I must note that there has not been any curtailment of the fertilizer subsidy, but would continue for paddy and other cultivations.

P Ariyanethran (TNA): Today, the government had tabled the LLRC report. As TNA, we will analyse it and confirm our position with regard to it.

Incidents have been reported over the take over of the agricultural lands belonging to farmers in the North.

Agrarian services centres in the North should be renovated. Those centres had been destroyed during the war. Some of these centres had been in a dilapidated state and need prompt renovation and reconstruction.

A power plant was constructed in Sampur to generate 500 mw of power. A large number of families in this area could be displaced due to it. It can have harmful affect on the people too. So we request that this plant be shelted to some suitable location.

Athuraliye Rathana Thera (UPFA): Man has been a part of nature. But human greed had done a great harm to nature.

Today, 42,000 tons of Co2 is being released every minute. Oil and coal are the main environment pollutants in the world. The world requires these pollution for development. However, according to the Kyoto Protocol, all countries must reduce their Co2 emissions drastically. I think that as a country, we must give priority to environment concerns. If we can pursue sustainable development, we would be able to demand payment from other developed countries for our environmental grievances which had happened due to their uncontrolled activities.

Anura Dissanayake (DNA): There are many shortcomings in the amended Agrarian Services Act. Tenant farmers face a number of difficulties and injustices due to it. These weaknesses should be rectified and grievances be addressed. The farmers' pension scheme has been on hold, while farming community has been undergoing a serious problem.

Education Deputy Minister Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa: There are certain problems in regard to the agrarian and wildlife sector. I will point out them during the consultative committee meetings too. I also have spoken to the Director General of the Wildlife Conservation Department over some of these issues. I represent a farming community. Some of these environmental laws make poor farmers uncomfortable, since fines are very heavy even if found to be guilty by mistake.

Lands and Land Development Deputy Minister Siripala Gamlath: New centres have been opened to distribute quality paddy seeds and vegetable seeds to the farmers. This government has provided massive relief to the farmers.

Countrywide agrarian centres have been doing a great job in providing welfare and necessary facilities to the farmers. The necessary fertilizer are being distributed for cultivations.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa: The boundary lines of adjacent lands of the forest reserves have been slightly changed over during the past years. Now we have taken steps to mark the boundary lines once again accurately. This had been no fault of anyone. We have always tried to act in a manner where people won't be affected.

I have instructed our officers to heed to the requests and observations of the political leadership of the region too, when carrying out their duties.

Global warming has become a severe issue to the world. As estimated with the rise of temperature, the sea level can rise by another one metre. This has a large effect on islands such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives. We have formulated a national policy on climatic change and we have established a separate secretariat for it.

We will take measures to permit sand mining in sea beds, since excess sand mining in rivers would affect them, and we have to fulfill the demands of the local market as well.

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (UNP): The government must take action to pay compensation to the farmers whose agricultural products have been destroyed due to the rule of using plastic crates for transporting vegetables and fruits. There had been a number of problems in this regard. They do not have title deeds to their lands. Therefore, the government must intervene to solve their problems. People in the North and East who have suffered due to the 30-year war, should be provided with their original land.

This government has taken over the lands of these innocent people, for the setting up of high security zones and military camps.

Some political henchmen have taken over land forcefully and even lands owned by the ordinary people living in Trincomalee, to establish hotels. Injustice is rampant and you must look into this issue.

Lands and Land Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon: There has been a shortage of surveyors. Only 490 surveyors have been attached to the ministry currently. We are presently planning to recruit surveyors. We have taken steps to settle land disputes of the Tamil community in the North and East.

Under the 'Bim Saviya' programme, we have decided to provide incentives to the Surveyors to encourage them. A number of cases are presently being heard in many courts with regard to land disputes. No one has been allowed to encroach on lands based on political influences or whatever other reasons. We are taking stern action against those responsible for such acts.

Dr Harsha de Silva (UNP): The government is presently engaged in selling lands throughout the country, to cover up its losses and expenses. Several lands within the city limits of Colombo have already been sold to some foreign companies for the construction of hotels without the people not being aware of it. These lands have been sold without even calling for tenders. A number of valuable lands have already been sold without transparency. There should be a national policy for lands. Then only could you be able to solve disputes pertaining to lands.

Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthi Muralidaran: The government has taken speedy action to resettle the rest of the people living in welfare camps and a sum of Rs 300 million has been allocated for the purpose.

We have provided all possible facilities to the resettled people of the North and East.

After 30 years, electricity and water facilities have been supplied to rural villages in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts.

Mavei Senadhiraja (TNA): A very small amount of funds have been allocated for the Resettlement Ministry. So, how can the ministry resettle people and provide them the much needed facilities with this meagre amount of money?

The government not only had resettled the people, but also should take measures to improve their living standards.

The Tamil people are suffering immensely. The government has a responsibility to expedite the resettlement process and provide them with relief.

You must visit our areas and listen to the grievances of the people. We will extend our fullest support for your efforts in solving the Tamil people's problems.

Sriyani Wijewickrema (UPFA): I think that uncultivated lands should be given to the landless people for cultivation. Ownership of land should be transferred to its owners. The cultivation rights of the land should be given to chena cultivators.

The House adjourned until 9.30am today.

To be continued

Continued from yesterday

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama: There had been constructive criticism as well as malicious intentions. We had no part in destroying the CTB and setting the buses on fire.

The UNP regime did not take any measures to strengthen the CTB. It was during the S W R D Bandaranaike regime that the bus service was peopalized.

We have taken measures to extend the railway line to Omanthai. Now it has been planned to extend it to Palai and then to Kankesanthurai.

We have taken nearly two years to extend the railway line to Omanthai. We did not destroy that railway line. During this period, MP Vijayakala earned massively from her ships. We are aware of it.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake's criticisms had been levelled with malicious intentions. We could reconstruct the railway line that had been destroyed by the tsunami soon.

We have deployed the entire workforce for other purpose. So, we had to hand the construction to an Indian company to produce railway tracks.

The Kataragama railway line is being constructed upto Beliatta very soon.

There are flaws in the CGR. We have imported new engines and compartments from China and India. The train takes 12 hours to reach Batticaloa. Our attempt is to reduce it to eight to 10 hours.

The CTB has over 2,000 buses which are older than six years. So, the expenditure on these buses have been very high.

We have taken measures to provide buses on a leasing system to the CTB. We have provided 29 buses to the North while 23 had been provided to the East.

We have plans to provide more buses to the CTB.

House resumes proceedings

The House resumed at 1pm after being adjourned at 12.30pm for lunch. The House took up the finance heads of Power and Energy for debate during the committee stage of the Appropriation Bill 2012.

Kabir Hasheem (UNP): The Mahaweli project had been a turning point in the country's history. It had been initiated at the right time. A large number of people had received electricity connections through this project.

However the present regime has been unable to formulate long-term or medium-team power supply projects, except the commissioning of Norochchole Power Plant.

Until 1996, the CEB had been a profit making institution. The collapse of this sector had started since 1996, during the period of former president Chandrika Bandaranaike.

The country faced a power crisis thereafter. Under the present regime, power cuts have been initiated again without prior notice.

There had been no power cuts

Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka: There is no power cut at present. This is not true. I admitted that since June 19-July 7, there had been a problem due to the breakdown of 5 generators. We rectified the problem and thereafter, upto now, there has been no power cut in the country. So do not mislead the House.

Kabir Hasheem: I don't agree with the minister. I have facts to prove my point.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka: Today is a historical day in the country. Today we are filling the Upper Kotmale plant with water, after completing its constructions. This plant will provide 150MW to the national grid.

The President had commenced long overdue power projects in the country. The first such coal power plant was to be constructed in 1988, but it was delayed by several regimes and ultimately President Rajapaksa initiated it.

The entire Mahaweli project had generated only 550MW. But during the present leadership, the national grid would be added three fold more power than the Mahaweli project.

The Kerawalapitiya and Sampur power plants are also being constructed now. We consider electricity as a fundermental requirement of the people.

According to our priority list, we have given first and foremost prority an interrupted power supply round the clock. Sri Lanka is the only country in the region which provides an uninterrupted power supply throughout the day. We have been aware of the fact that the economic loss that the country suffers is great if power failures occur.

That is why we are keen to supply electricity uninterruptedly, by purchasing power even from the private sector.

Today our hydro power contribution has been about 30 percent and as estimated, this would further reduced to 20 percent by 2020. Even though the reservoirs reach its capacity this would only be enough for 40 days.

We have formulated a medium-term plan to build a power and energy sector which would not be affected by weather patterns. We see that both the Northeastern and Southwestern monsoon rains have not approached the country on time.

Less rainfalls have been experienced during the last monsoon.

Our second priority is to distribute electricity to every household. By 2000, 65 percent of the country's population had electricity connections.

Today this has been 92 percent. We hope to complete 100 percent by next year. Under the Grama Shakthi programme, 60,000 families who are unable to obtain national grid connections, will be supplied with electricity by means of solar power, wind power or minihydro projects. Over 100,000 families receive electricity at present in this manner.

Our third priority has been to improve the quality of the power sector. We have undertaken gigantic investment to this sector, which amounts to Rs 402 billion. This is eight times more than the Mahaweli project.

The CEB has not been a profit-oriented institution. We maintain it as a service to the public.

This budget has made an allocation of Rs 34 billion for this sector. In 2010, we were able to save Rs 13,487 million. With this saving we could go for a profit of Rs 5 billion.

The sole reason for the profit of the CEB had not been rain as some opposition MPs claim. We have established an efficient network.

We could reduce the power damage and could save Rs 2 billion by this means. We hope to curb power piracy which is still taking place in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. We are also conducting spot raids now.

The Headquarters have carried out 8,452 raids since June 2010-November 2011 and had collected Rs 236 million as fines. These factors have also helped towards the profit of the CEB.

Since 2008, electricity tariff had not risen for the consumers who use less than 90 units. About 78 percent of consumers use less than 90 units. Sri Lanka is the only country in the region which did not supply electricity for commercial purposes.

The Smart grid system and the automated network system will be launched in the near future. The balance score card system had been first introduced to the country by implementing it in the CEB, to evaluate the efficiency of the CEB.

I observe that the future of the power sector depends solely on the renewable energy sources. The first ever wind power plant to generate 650 MW will be constructed in Mannar.

We have already established the country's first solar power plant in Hambantota and the capacity of this plant would be increased upto 100 MW.

We hope to supply electricity connections as soon as possible for the rest of the 450,000 families who are awaiting the connections.

P Harison (UNP): Minister Ranawaka had been trying to say that a number of revolutions and revivals have taken place in the Power and Energy sector after he assumed duties as minister of power and energy. But to say the least, most of the power cuts had been reported during his period.

The minister said that LECO had earned profits during his era. But LECO had been earning profits continuously, since its inception in 1994.

This is not the magic of the minister and it is a normal process.

Sunil Handunnetti (DNA): Today, the CEB is running at a loss. It has been mentioned in the COPE report, as well. There have been a number of officers in the CEB who have been found guilty of corruption and malpractice.

Many persons have been recruited to the CEB without considering their qualifications. Did you select them through competitive examinations?

Dayasiri Jayasekera (UNP): The CEB is unable to recover its losses without increasing the electricity tariff.

Now the ministry plans to increase the electricity traffic by next January. The construction of the Kerawalapitiya Power plant had been initiated at a loss of Rs 225 million. But it had cost around Rs 35,000 million when the construction had been completed. Finally, innocent people in this country had to bear this burden.

We have to repay Rs 318,000 within a period of 25 years, due to the construction of the Kerawalapitiya Power Plant which had been incurring a loss due to mismanagement.

Adaikkalanathan (TNA): The government must take measures to supply electricity to rehabilitated villages in the North.

People in rural areas of the North suffer a lot due to the lack of electricity.

TNA MP Adeikkalanathan:

Today, the Uthuru Wasanthaya had not been functioning. There had been no proper programme to provide electricity to people in the North.

79 percent of Jaffna provided with electricity

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka: The Uthuru Wasanthaya programme has not been stopped. Seventy nine percent of Jaffna have been provided with electricity under the Uthuru Wasanthaya programme.

There are programmes to provide electricity to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. The government is not responsible for the people in the North being deprived of electricity. The so-called heroes in Wellamullavaikkal have been responsible for the sufferings of the people in the North.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP): When the UNP received loans for projects like the Randenigala, around 80 percent had been donations, the rest being the loans obtained at very low interest rates. This government is developing the country today. But those developments are being made with the projects initiated by the UNP government.

Power and Energy Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekera: This government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has instructed us to provide electricity to each family.

The UNP said that the Ihala Kotmale Project had been initiated by the UNP but I have to recall that you only attempted to initiate it. You also printed invitation cards but due to the influence of a high ranker of the UNP, you were unable to initiate it.

But we initiated it and its electricity would be added to the National Grid in March 2012. Projects are in progress to provide electricity to Chunnakam from Vavunia via Kilinochchi.

I understand that the UNP had been sad today as the government is providing electricity without any interruption.

At adjournment

This regulation had not been a sudden decision

Minister Johnston Fernando

The new regulations to make it compulsory for the use of plastic crates to transport vegetables and fruits, had not been a sudden decision, but had been a result of an extensive research carried out for a long period, said Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando.

He made these observations in reply to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Sujeewa Senasinghe.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP): The new rule making it compulsory for the use of plastic crates to transport vegetables and fruits had made farmers, traders and the public, uncomfortable.

The government should be flexible. It should intervene to solve these persisting matters with regard to this rule. There had been a scarcity of vegetables in the local market.

DNA MP Sunil Handunnetti seconded the motion.

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando: The first Gazette notifications with regard to this rule, had been issued on January 10, 2011.

This had been a result of an extensive research. After this Gazette notification, the President had held discussions with various parties. The traders at the Manning Market had only asked for a six-month grace period. We have facilitated one year to adjust to the law.

The President has directed the private sector to manufacture 10 million plastic crates. This was not done in a hurried manner.

The Opposition Leader commended the formulation of this rule. Even MP Dayasiri Jayasekera and MP Handunnetti spoke good of the rule.

The protest have been provocated by certain groups of businessmen and a few traders of the Manning Market.

This had been a decision arrived at after presenting the proposal to the Cabinet. This government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa had always appeared for the wellbeing of the farmers.

It is the present regime who had facilitated the fertilizer subsidy for all cultivations.

The UNP is unable to gather at least 300 people for a protest now. They are unable to mislead the farmers.

This has been a very good proposal. The benefits from this move would be for the consumers at the end, since it had reduces wastage.

Therefore, this government will definitely go forward with regard to the implementation of this regulation.

The Finance Heads were passed without amendments.