All constructions above 5,000ft elevation will not be removed: Environment Minister

• President announced only the basic concept

By Ajith Siriwardana  

Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi said yesterday all constructions in the hill country at an elevation above 5,000 feet will not be removed and that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced only the basic concept on the need to protect the Central Hills.  
The Minister told the Daily Mirror that a committee has been appointed to identify the fragile areas in the hill country and that the committee will issue recommendations to manage it.  
He said certain areas even below an elevation of 5,000 feet could be recognized as fragile areas considering its inclination, nature of the soil and biodiversity.  
“The President announced only the basic concept. We will develop it into an action plan,” he said.  
The Minister said certain areas in Nuwara Eliya would come under fragile areas and added that in such a case, the constructions of that area will have to be removed and some roads will have to be diverted.  
Responding to claims made by a university academic that the country will have to face serious consequences in the event of removal of all constructions above 5000 feet, the Minister said the academic had mixed up the whole idea.  
Addressing the recent Budget debate, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that areas located above 5,000 feet from mean sea level where people have occupied should be safeguarded through systematic reforestation and planned land use.