DEYATA KIRULA VS BUDDANGALA WILD LIFE SANCUARY

For the Deyata  Kirula  exhibition and for the car park ten acres  of preserved Buddangala Forest   sanctuary to be destroyed.

It is learnt that for parking of vehicles of VIP’s other dignitaries a space of 4 acres from the preserved forest at  Buddangala under the purview of the  Wild life and Forest department are to be cleared About 10 acres of preserved forest land had been already cleared using heavy vehicles, for the usage of the premises of the Deyata Kirula exhibition for its activities.
In November 1974 an extent of 1841.3 Hectares of forest land under an act passed by the government declaring this area to be preserved by the Wild Life and Forest Conservation department.
It is also reported that along Ampara and Uhana road a section of the electricity supplying section had been removed and the road has been cleared for the vehicles to enter. The entrance area to the Deyata Kirula exhibition has already constructed.
As this has been done for an activity of the government the officials of the wild life and forest preservation department are helpless without raising  objections and queries .It is learnt that the area already cleared had been an area when Elephants have lived in abundance, The elephants too have been deprived of their freedom having had to find alternate places within the forest for them to live.
By removing the Electricity fences the Elephants could move freely in these areas and the Elephant and peoples clashes are bound to increase .In the year 2009 by Act no 22 was amended. Subsequently under sub caption 7 the clauses sated in it have completely flouted. The clearing of the forest area with the knowledge of the government is a very pathetic act not only for the general public and particularly to the officials of the wild Life and forest department
In the year 1980 a new act No 47 a new law in regard to the National Environment policy was introduced and it was further amended on February 23rd 1995 through the gazette notification no 859/14 it was ordered that close to within 100 metres of this forest land no development projects should be made. All these rules and orders have been by the government in spite of laws and acts already laid by the government. If at all if any project is to be commenced prior permission should be obtaining prior approval. In the year 2007 by Act no 65 and sub section 20 it is firmly stated that the wild life  and forest in any area should be preserved. All these acts also have been flouted completely for a need of the government.
In addition in the year 1993 on June 23rd through a gazette notification number 772/22 it had been advise that if an extent of over 2.5 acres is used for some activity  permission of the wild life and forest department need to be sought. All these laws, acts and what had been gazetted have been completely flouted in connection with the clearing of nearly or more than 10 acres of forest land for the Deyata Kirula exhibition purposes
When laws have been enacted it is a serious question that the government is keeping quiet when the laws pertaining to these activities are flouted. From stage by stage these laws which have to be followed by the related authorities particularly for two reasons. One is allowing the elephants to loiter freely and the other is not considering the harm done to the forests that have to be reserved. From this is learnt what the authorities need is what a ‘crown’ that should be worn on the ‘Deyata’, flouting the rules and laws by damaging and harming the Buddangala wild forest.
Report- Sajeewa Chamikara
Environmentalist