Mining machines damage houses

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs and MP for Ratnapura W.D.J. Seneviratne yesterday directed the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) to ban the use of backhoe and sucker machines in gem mining at Kuruwita in the Ratnapura district due to the heavy damage caused to a large number of houses and agricultural land in the area.

Minister Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer that the use of these machines in gem mining has already damaged 34 houses in the area and a large extent of valuable agricultural land.

He said if this situation continues, more houses will be damaged which may lead to earthslips during heavy rains.