Online edition of the Daily News: by Florence Wickamage
The Central Environmental Authority has recommended to the Task Force in charge of Reconstruction and Rebuilding tsumani affected areas that environmental factors be given due consideration when planning to put up new houses, CEA Director General Manel Jayamanne told the Daily News yesterday.
Clearing up of tsunami debris is now under control with dump yards being identified to dispose of tsunami debris. CEA officials who were at selected sites had advised the public to reuse whatever building materials that were available and to dispose for re-cyling other solid waste, Ms. Jayamanne said. Clearing up of tsunami debris had been undertaken by the US Marines and other non-governmental groups which had machinery and expertise.
Ms. Jayamanne said that during a recent visit to Kalmunai she observed the willingness of certain groups of people to maintain a 500 metre buffer-zone while rebuilding their damaged houses. She said that people had cooperated voluntarily to plant trees within the buffer-zone.
She also said that she has been informed that certain groups of people mainly fisherfolk, in the southern coastline had raised objections to the 100 metre buffer-zone on the grounds that they preferred to live at their previous locations with the beach front being available to anchor their boats and other fishing gear.
Construction of new houses needed careful planning and consideration with adequate provisions made for the disposal of solid waste and for sewer-treatment to prevent environmental pollution and the destruction of natural barriers, Ms. Jayamanne added.
The Central Environmental Authority has recommended to the Task Force in charge of Reconstruction and Rebuilding tsumani affected areas that environmental factors be given due consideration when planning to put up new houses, CEA Director General Manel Jayamanne told the Daily News yesterday.
Clearing up of tsunami debris is now under control with dump yards being identified to dispose of tsunami debris. CEA officials who were at selected sites had advised the public to reuse whatever building materials that were available and to dispose for re-cyling other solid waste, Ms. Jayamanne said. Clearing up of tsunami debris had been undertaken by the US Marines and other non-governmental groups which had machinery and expertise.
Ms. Jayamanne said that during a recent visit to Kalmunai she observed the willingness of certain groups of people to maintain a 500 metre buffer-zone while rebuilding their damaged houses. She said that people had cooperated voluntarily to plant trees within the buffer-zone.
She also said that she has been informed that certain groups of people mainly fisherfolk, in the southern coastline had raised objections to the 100 metre buffer-zone on the grounds that they preferred to live at their previous locations with the beach front being available to anchor their boats and other fishing gear.
Construction of new houses needed careful planning and consideration with adequate provisions made for the disposal of solid waste and for sewer-treatment to prevent environmental pollution and the destruction of natural barriers, Ms. Jayamanne added.
