President directs to evacuate encroachers

Sandasen MARASINGHE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday instructed the authorities to take measures to evacuate unauthorised settlers in forest reserves, dried up areas of tanks and catchment areas irrespective of their positions.

He made this observation at the special Kurunegala District Development Committee meeting at the Wayamba Cooperative Rural Bank auditorium, Kurunegala yesterday.

President Rajapaksa told officials to evacuate settlers in the Elephant Corridor and find a lasting solution to the human-elephant conflict.

The President said nobody has the right to take over state land forcibly.

He said he has received many complaints that encroachers have settled in forest reserves and dried up areas of tanks and catchment areas.

The President said these encroachers have to be evacuated for the benefit of the entire country. President Rajapaksa said Kurunegala and Puttalam districts were suffering due to a water shortage and the government was taking measures to address the issue.

A farmer participating at the meeting said they cultivated in dried up and catchment areas as there was no adequate water for cultivation. The President in response said the tanks provide water to lands cultivated extending to 400 to 500 acres and these water resources should not be interrupted.

He instructed the authorities to renovate the tanks across the country and take measures to resettle the unauthorised settlers. The President said more than 500 acres of forest reserves in the Kurunegala district have been encroached on making the human – elephant conflict severe. The people in Elephant Corridors too should be evacuated and settled outside the electric fences to minimise the conflict, President Rajapaksa said.

He instructed the authorities to set up tanks in forest reserves and also create a conducive environment for elephants to roam. The President also instructed the authorities to complete the buildings, roads and bridges abandoned halfway, before commencing other projects. He said foundation stones should not be laid if projects cannot be completed.

President Rajapaksa also instructed officials to design plans of projects on the money allocated and not to abandon half way after designing massive projects. Officers said among many achievements, the Deduru Oya Project which will address the water issue in the area, is more than 75 percent complete.