Port City project should be stopped - civil society bodies

by Lalin Fernandopulle

Opponents of the Colombo Port City project came down hard on the proponents and backers of the controversial project at a 'Public Tribunal' organised by Transparency International last week in Colombo, condemning it outright as a move that is catastrophic to the environment and livelihood of a large number of fisher folk in the country.

Environmentalists continued to harp on the unscientific and incomprehensive environmental impact study which the previous regime subtly termed as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and dubbed it as a lopsided report replete with errors.

Attorney-at-Law Ravindranath Dabera said that the leaders of a country are trustees who are called upon to nurture and protect its resources. They cannot dole it out to another country at any cost. The previous regime has blatantly violated this trust and offered one of its most valuable resources to another country.

"No one has the right to give the reclaimed seabed or sea shore on freehold to another party. How could the then head of the State hand over the reclaimed land on freehold basis to another country? This is how the resources were plundered right throughout by successive governments," Dabera said.

He said that the Coastal Conservation Act clearly states that no adverse effects should take place in the coastal zone when carrying out a project.

The Port City project will have major repercussions on the environment. The so called EIA report prepared by the Moratuwa University has breached the Coastal Conservation Act. What legal right has the Coastal Conservation Department to grant approval for such a project that is detrimental to the environment.

"The Act specifies that alternative studies should be conducted to minimise the damage to the environment. The report has not taken into consideration this aspect. It is a environment impact study and not an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report," Dabera said.

Environmentalist Thilak Kariyawasam said that the report has not stated anything about from where sand, rocks, water and energy will be provided for the project. The China Communication and Construction Company is an entity that has been blacklisted by the World Bank. Project proponents say that the livelihood of only around 200 fishermen would be affected by the project. This is absurd. The livelihood of around 8,000 fishermen would be at stake as a result of the project.

Environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam said that fish breeding and corals will become extinct as a result of deep sea dredging. It would also affect food production in the sea.

"We already see coastal erosion at the Uswetakeiyawa and Negombo beaches. The Dubai Port City has adversely affected the surrounding sea.

"Hotel waste will be dumped to the sea. Air pollution assessment has not been done. We cannot forgo the livelihood of a large number of fishermen for the sake of 83,000 jobs the Port City will offer," he said.

President, Environment Conservation Trust, Sujeeva Chamikara said that the environment impact study does not state anything about the archaeological impact. The location of the project has archaeological importance. There has been no study on the impact on marine resources. The expertise of marine biologists was not sought in implementing the project.

The construction of the Port City was set to begin in 2011 but due to various reasons the project was stopped. Work on the project was launched in September 2014. The construction of the US$1.5 billion Port City was due to be completed in 39 months reclaiming around 230 hectares. The Port City will include roads, water, electricity, communication facilities to set up shopping areas, water sports area, mini golf course, hotels, apartments, recreation areas and marinas.