Environment Ministry instructs CEA to mark protected boundaries of all rivers

The Environment Ministry has instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to mark the protected boundaries of all the rivers as a measure to protect them from environmental pollution associated with river water and dumping of pollutants into the surrounding environment.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said it had been found that all the business activities located along the river banks and the people who are living in the vicinity discharge all the pollutants that accumulate into the rivers.

The issue was pointed out at the Environment Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting recently.

It was pointed out that some individuals had used political power and bribed officials to build a number of unauthorized structures along the river, thus causing massive environmental pollution associated with the river network.

Therefore, the programme  to mark the protected boundaries covering all rivers should be initiated first with the Kelani River, the Minister said.

"The Kelani River is currently the most polluted river in our country. A survey conducted by the CEA spotted 1, 374 effluent disposal sites.

 Accordingly, 577 places have been reported from Gampaha District and 797 from Colombo District, "he said.

After marking the river reserve along the Kelani River, steps will be taken to eject the squatters and it is proposed to start housing schemes for them through the Urban Development Authority, the Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, said the Ministry is planning to designate the Kelani River Conservation Zone from Hanwella to Peliyagoda as a Special Conservation Zone for the country's second longest river. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)