PARLIAMENT

Hon. Ajith Gihan,—To ask the Minister of Environment,— (2)

(a) Will he inform this House —

(i) whether he is aware that a massive environmental destruction is taking place in Puttalam district because of excavating of sand, gravel, soil and tanks under legal licences carried out without keeping a proper standard;

(ii) whether a methodology will be formulated to regulate such excavating;

(iii) whether a new methodology has been introduced for the excavating of sand, gravel, soil and tanks and for issuing transport licences for same; and

(iv) if so, of that methodology?

(b) Will he also inform this House —

(i) of the intervention of the Provincial Environmental Authority of the North Western Province, in a situation where a massive environmental destruction is being caused in the North Western Province;

(ii) of the responsibility of that authority; and

(iii) whether there is a need to further keep the Provincial Environmental Authority of the North Western Province in operation?

(c) If not, why ?