CONSTRUCTIONS OF HAMBEGAMUWA ANCIENT TANK

Shape of a hotel under construction in a reserve

     Unauthorised constructions taking place within the Hambegamuwa ancient tank which lies in the Hambegamuwa grma seva area belonging to the Provincial Council Secretariat Division has become a threat to the environment. The Hambegamuwa tank which is believed to have been erected during the time of King Dappula II provided a paddy harvest for over thousands of years across a large area.

    The first unauthorised construction of this tank which catered to inhabitants of the village for over thousands of years had been erected a number of years previously. However, one unauthorised hotel which had been established with the blessings of all officials at the location known as Mailawala in the Hambegamuwa tank is presently in operation and it is reported that still another hotel is taking shape by now within the tank reserve in the Hambegamuwa tank.

    As a result, it is reported that consequently hotels and other erections which have come into force are . The Hambegamuwa tank has to a large extent been filled and the people in the area are being daily deprived of tapping locations where water remains.

   Because of hotels already constructed and other unauthorised constructions coming up, water in the tank has become polluted and while the tank bed has been destroyed,even small inlets which provide water to the tank too have been destroyed.

  As a consequence, the environmental rights of the second generation to obtain water on along-term basis by farmers have been violated because of these constructions. These unlawful erections have not only violated human rights but has contributed towards the ever-increasing common conflict between man and elephant.

 Report-- Ravindra Kariyawasam 
              Centre for Studies on Environment and Nature