Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Pause coal operations until impact assessment: Dr. Sanjeewa
By Mangala Pavithrani
Colombo, Feb 26 (Daily Mirror) - Medical and Civil Rights Trade Union Alliance Chairman Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, has called on the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to immediately suspend the burning of allegedly substandard coal until a comprehensive environmental study is conducted.
He made the appeal after visiting the CEA yesterday (25) and submitting a written request. He warned that the continued use of substandard coal could cause severe damage to land, water resources, and marine ecosystems.
He said that urgent measures are needed to minimise potential health risks to more than 200,000 residents living near the Lakvijaya Power Plant.
“This destruction could be eighty times greater than the previous MV X-Press Pearl disaster, and there is no point in attempting to calculate the damage after it has already occurred,” he said.
Dr. Sanjeewa also claimed that environmental groups have remained silent despite what he described as a serious environmental crisis. He further questioned the transparency of government-appointed committees investigating the matter, stating that civil society organisations were forced to intervene due to the failure of relevant authorities to take proper action.
Meanwhile, social activist Achala Divaka alleged that several irregularities have taken place in the coal tender process since August. Although the government has maintained that the coal is not contaminated, he said there are reasonable doubts about its quality, warning that public health and the environment could be at significant risk due to alleged procurement irregularities.
Comments - 5
Recommended
You May Also Like
Trending
