Agitation to continue:

Environmentalists vow to stop Port City project

By Lalin Fernandopulle

Environmentalists and civil society organisations accused the present government for reneging to scrap the Colombo Port City Project (CPCP) after coming to power on the grounds of lack of transparency and adverse consequences to the environment.

The Peoples’ Movement Against the Port City Project (PMAPCP) comprising fishery association representatives, environmentalists, archaeologists and lawyers at a media briefing last week, condemned the undemocratic act and abuse of executive powers by the present Government to go ahead with the project despite opposition to it.

PMAPCP Committee President Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda said that refusing to heed to the voice of people and brushing it a side for political gain is an anti-democratic act and an abuse of executive powers by the present Government. He said the environmental impact assessment report (EIAR) prepared by the former Government cannot be accepted as a comprehensive and an authentic as it concealed vital information and was done without consulting the people.

“The report was prepared to satisfy the whims and fancies of one person.

Is it the priority of a Government to implement such a huge project at colossal cost to the economy and the environment when a large number of people are deprived of their basic needs,” Fr. Iddamalgoda said.

The EIAR was prepared by the Moratuwa University and the Coastal Conservation Department without consulting the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). Preparation of the report commenced in January 2011. It was out in the first week of April and approved on the 12th of the same month.

Activists said that quarry mining of that magnitude from various parts of the country has an enormous environmental impact. Destruction to marine resources and obstructing opportunities for archaeological studies are inevitable. Knowing pretty well the consequences, why did the Government go back on its word?, they queried.

PMAPCP Committee Member Tilak Kariyawasam said that one needs to ask for whose welfare is the project being implemented. It will be a few politicians and the super rich who would benefit.

The project is estimated to cost around US$ 15 billion.

PMAPC Committee Member Sujeeva Chamikara said that the EIAR should have an alternative study on areas that have less environmental impact in carrying out projects. Though the report states that 500 acres will be filled to get 300 acres for the project, actually around 575 acres will be filled.

He said that the 233-hectare reclaimed land will have two components. Hundred and eight hectares will belong to China, of which 88 hectares will be on a 99-year lease and 20 hectares on mortgage.

Hundred and seventy hectares will be available for sale and 63 for recreational and commercial activities.

"The report does not contain archaeological impact assessments which would deprive room for studies. Marine biologists, archaeologists and technical expert were not consulted," Chamikara said.

He said the Colombo Port will be affected as large quantities of sand will accumulate at the port as a result of the Port City. More funds will be needed to extract the sand. Anchoring ships will be affected with the change of wave patterns.

Rocks needed for the project are transported from Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara. The project needs around 26.8 cubic million rocks.

All Ceylon Fisher-folk Trade Union President Aruna Roshantha Fernando said that the project will affect the livelihood of a large number of fishermen.

If the former Government was concerned about liberating the North and the East from the LTTE why has it failed to save the country from the dominance of China?, he queried.

“Neither the people nor the fisher community was consulted when embarking on the project.

The fisher community will be one of the major losers of the project. We did not start this agitation recently but launched it when the news broke out that the previous Government was to launch a project reclaiming land adjacent to the Galle Face Green,” Fernando said.

He said the coral reef which helps breed fish will be destroyed and fishing in the area will be hampered.

Refuting arguments that around 10 percent of the work of the project has been completed and it would be a waste to halt it, he said that the impact on the environment is more grave.

Fisher organisations also opposed the plan of the former Government to use the Negombo lagoon for landing and taking off sea planes.

“We will continue our agitation. The PMAPCP will lead a march to the Presidential Secretariat to present a petition to President Maithripala Sirisena on March 3.

Attorney-at Law Ravindranath Dabera said that that the EIAR cannot be considered a report as it contains many legal shortcomings. It is a study which has not been studied by the CEA and was not approved by the Irrigation Department with regard to flooding. There is no attention paid to the Marine Pollution Act and there is no link made to the preparer of the report and the project undertaker.

He said that the committee appointed by the Prime Minister to study the project comprises politicians and not legal experts.

When contacted, Deputy Minister of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child Youth and Cultural Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva said that a decision on the project would be taken after the evaluation committee submits its report.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the media in the run up to the Presidential election that he would scrap the project due to its adverse repercussions on the environment. The Prime Minister has come under criticism for breaching his pledge and going ahead with the project.