President Ranil Wickramasinghe has informed the relevant officials to take immediate steps to stop the illegal constructions being carried out in the Ohiya area from Boralanda to Horton Plains.
The President said that he observed that due to the constructions in the Ohiya area, severe environmental destruction has occurred in connection with it, and pointed out that if the situation is not prevented immediately, he will have to face a serious problem in the future.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe mentioned this while joining the Badulla District Special Coordination Committee meeting held at the Uva Provincial Library Auditorium yesterday (16) afternoon.
Also, the President instructed the officials to inform the relevant institutions in writing to act according to the relevant decisions when approving the building plans of the district.
The President also inquired about the program to provide relief to the people affected by the disaster in Badulla district and informed the officials to submit a complete description of the areas that may be hit by disaster in the future.
The officials presented the issues raised in the resettlement of the displaced people and the obstacles raised in the legal release of land from estate companies were also discussed.
The President further instructed the officials to discuss the matter with the plantation companies and complete the work promptly.
Also, the development plans to be implemented in Badulla district in 2024 were also discussed.
He said that the decentralized budget will be given to the districts from next year and it will be possible to continue the development work by giving priority to the development needs of the district by combining all the money allocated to the Kandurata Development Program, the money allocated to the ministries, the money given to the provincial councils and the money received from the projects implemented on foreign aid. He also mentioned that the President plans to start the work by July next year.
Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe, who further commented,
“There was no development in our country for 3 years. Development projects including construction of highways stopped midway. With the success of the program with the International Monetary Fund, we have had the opportunity to systematically restart those development projects that stopped midway.
Also, our creditors, the Paris Club and India, as well as China, have accepted our proposals. Accordingly, the opportunity has been given to continue the discussions. Because of that recognition, we get foreign aid again. Accordingly, we expect to inform about the projects that can be started immediately in the first few months of next year.
Also, a certain amount of money has been allocated from the 2024 budget for development work. This money had to be collected by collecting income tax. The country needs development. So we have to start these projects. And these activities should be carried forward with dedication. Although all these projects cannot be started in one year, they are expected to be started gradually. Projects to be given priority should be identified there.
We will provide the decentralized budget to the districts from next year. The provisions are given according to the number of seats available in the districts. In addition, the Kandurata program has been started. There are many isolated villages in the mountains. 10 million each will be given to each divisional secretariat to help such villages. We hope to gradually increase it.
And we have given money to the provincial councils. That money should also be added to this. Then the amount of money received by the district will increase. Also, money has been allocated to each project as capital expenditure at the ministry level. It is expected to include that amount of money. Also, the amount due to the projects implemented on the basis of foreign aid is also added to this.
According to this, the money allocated to the Kandurata program, the money allocated to the ministries, the money received by the provincial councils, as well as the money received from the projects implemented on the basis of foreign aid, will be given to each district. We hope to start this work by July 2024.
I hope to appoint a committee to implement the work at the provincial level in consultation with the district development committees. The committee consists of the chairpersons of the district development committee and a member of the district as well as officials. Provincial Council projects are expected to be initiated through the Governor as well as the General Government projects through relevant institutions. Accordingly, the committees are given the ability to carry out the development activities to be carried out in their respective divisional secretariats.
And we have started the agriculture modernization program. The private sector is also contributing to this. It is hoped to appoint one person to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and the private sector.
Also, we have planned to turn agricultural service centers into agricultural modernization centers.
Also, we have planned to start the program of giving freehold deeds to all those who have licenses under the Land Development Ordinance in February. We hope to carry forward a large work in this way.”
Some of the issues raised here and the answers given by the President are as follows.
Question:
Attention has been paid several times before to increasing the amount of compensation given to houses and buildings affected by disasters. Mr. President, is there a course of action that can be taken in this regard?
Answer:
There are issues related to increasing the compensation amount. Although not possible next year, I believe it can be increased in the next few years. However, we need a new plan. Another thing should be said here. Who approves this housing plan? If this continues, action will have to be taken against the municipal council as well as the officer acting in connection with it. If these constructions collapse, they will have to pay from the money of the municipality. If plans are approved in connection with construction, the related criteria should be given in writing and acted upon accordingly. They should not be allowed to carry out those activities at will.
During my visit to Horton Plains, I saw a number of ‘guest houses’ built over the Ohiya. They are built near the river. If they all draw water from the stream, no water will come down. Therefore, I request that no construction be allowed in the Ohiya area until we discuss and inform.
If things continue like this, high class tourists will not come to these areas. And another damage caused by this is that the city and the area below will not get water by taking the water from the river up. Therefore, I request not to allow the construction in the area above Boraland. In the Blackpool area as well, due to such informal construction, the area has been destroyed.
Question:
The problems faced by the Badulla people due to the Uma Oya project have not yet been resolved. Mr. President, we request you to take some steps in this regard.
Answer:
Due to the Uma Oya project, a complete analysis has to be done on the impact on the Badulla district. The Uma Oya project was brought during the time of President Premadasa. Then we rejected it due to a number of issues. Uma Oya advised to move the Mahaweliya according to the plan. At that time, a number of problems caused by Tunnel was presented. In order to get complete solutions to these problems, as mentioned earlier, a complete analysis of Badulla district should be done.
Question:
We request that the internal roads and drainage system of the Dikarawa land damaged by Uma Oya be expedited.
Answer:
Due to the economic crisis faced by the country, we had to stop the ‘I Road’ project. Now we are ready to resume that project. Accordingly, we hope to discuss such projects and do related work.
