A group of suspects who illegally maintained a calcite deposit at Pallebedda Koswetiya Kanda endangering the Samanala Wewa Reservoir had been arrested, the Ministry of Environment stated. It had been pointed out that some deep underground excavations in the Balangoda area and explosions using ammunition could cause tremors. Accordingly, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau took steps to conduct a special operation on such excavations. It was there that all those who illegally operated a calcite deposit on Koswatiya Mountain were arrested. Excavations were carried out 150 meters wide and 80 meters deep inside the mountain. About 20 people have been loading calcite into tippers and tractors. Officials point out that there was a large stockpile of high explosives near the generator and that if they had exploded, the whole mountain would have collapsed. The Chairman of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau Anura Walpola stated that this could have affected the surrounding environment and the people as well as the Samanala Wewa. He pointed out that the pressure created by the collapse of such a massive mountain could inevitably cause a tremor of an even greater magnitude.