SINGHARAJA FOREST UNDER ‘ROAD THREAT’

By separating the ‘Singharaja’ forest into two through a proposed highway to connect two villages is a cruel fate to a forest inherited through geographic heritage:

The famous ‘Singharaja’ forest which was inherited and preserved for centuries as a rare treasured heritage has already commenced to be separated owing to a proposed ‘Roadway’ to be built between, th Illuokanda and Suriyakanda villages in Kalawana despite having alternate existing routes between the villagers.
The exercise despite strong protests work has speedily commenced and begun by clearing the forest using heavy vehicles like ‘Backo’ machines. This decision to commence work on the proposed road has been taken without the consent and permission of Geological and Environmental experts. The Forest conservative authorities have made strong protests in this regard, which have fallen on the deaf ears of those involved in this irregular exercise.
It is learnt that this decision has come from top Government officials and they confess that this exercise is done for the benefit of the villages. The project is undertaken with the aid of more than 300 workers in addition to the heavy machinery. About 3 kilometres of the proposed roadway is already completed. It is also reliably learnt that along the route there is a plan to commence various types of businesses, like tourism etc. A warning has already been issued by the Forest officers that the safety of the forest would be at stake and  many unscrupulous elements could enter the forest easily for illegal activities.




Map courtesy of ‘Sunday Times’