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Probe finds 950 excavation sites not rehabilitated

18 Feb 2022

Following an investigation conducted by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB), it has been found that there are 950 excavation sites left unrehabilitated between the years of 2012 and 2021.  Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the GSMB to take legal action against those who have not rehabilitated excavation sites properly after using them.  “According to the investigation report, there are still 950 unrehabilitated excavation sites between 2012 and March 2021. Rehabilitation work has been completed in 2,491 places so far. A bank guarantee is kept for rehabilitation when the excavation permit is issued. So far, 70% of the land on which the rehabilitation work has been completed has been repaid with a bank guarantee,” the GSMB’s investigation report has revealed.  The report has been handed over to Amaraweera at the Environment Ministry this week. This was noted in a press release issued by the ministry yesterday (17).  Furthermore, the report has found that excavation permits issued by the GSMB have turned some of the excavations into death traps. “Some places are dug deep and look large. The illegal abandonment of these sites after the end of the excavations could endanger the lives of humans as well as that of wildlife.” Therefore, Amaraweera has instructed the GSMB to immediately commence a programme to rehabilitate such excavations, to take legal action against those who have not rehabilitated the sites properly after the completion of the excavations, and to ensure that such establishments and individuals are not relicensed. Furthermore, Amaraweera has said that the completed rehabilitation work must be re-examined in order to determine whether the work has been carried out properly at the places where the bank guarantees were withdrawn.  


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