262 quarries in landslide-prone areas to undergo re-survey: GSMB

By Indika Sri Aravinda

Colombo, Dec. 16 (Daily Mirror) - The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) has announced plans to conduct a re-scientific survey of 262 quarries operating in areas affected by landslides following Cyclone “Ditwah.”

The initiative focuses on quarries situated in high-risk zones, with the Director General of the Bureau, Mrs. Deepani Weerakoon, highlighted that mining licenses for quarries identified as landslide-prone will be suspended immediately.

So far, action has been taken to suspend two quarries in the Matale district that were impacted by landslides. Of the quarries under review, 127 operate in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Matale districts, while 135 are located in Kegalle and Ratnapura.

The Bureau aims to enforce stricter procedures in issuing mining permits in the future and make adherence to recommendations from the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) mandatory. Experts from the NBRO and the GSMB will jointly participate in the re-survey.

Mrs. Weerakoon stressed that this step is crucial to ensuring public safety and preventing further landslide-related hazards in mining areas.