Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday appointed a committee to streamline the regulatory processes of the quarry industry. The committee is expected to submit an initial report in within two weeks, said the Prime Minister’s media unit in press release.
PM Rajapaksa has instructed that the quarry industry to adopt environmental friendly standards. The committee is expected to streamline the issuing of licences, permits to quarries on state and private lands, and the lease of such land. The decision was reached at a meeting held at Temple Trees yesterday and was headed by the Prime Minister.
The committee is made up of representatives from the Lands Commissioner, Department of Wild Life and Conservation, Geology and Mines Bureau, the Mahaweli Authority, Survey Department, Ministry of Defence, Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Public Administration and the Central Environmental Authority.
The PM has briefed the committee not to complicate the process which is in place, to issue licences and permits for quarries. He has also stressed that any quarry activity should be carried out with minimal impact on the environment and the water table in line with the governments environmental policies.
(FT)