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TRINCOMALEE BAY SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA Page | 54
8. Sand mining and gravel mining
235. Poor law enforcement and lack of institutional coordination have paved the way for
illegal mining activities. Hence DSAM CCC should identify alternative sites for sand and
gravel mining and advise respective agencies to issue permits accordingly. All other illegal
mining activities should be stopped once the procedure is streamlined. The issue of gravel
mining is related to road construction and is largely a temporary issue.
236. Sand mining has been reported from the shoreline, inland and in seasonal water
streams in the SAMP area. Large scale river sand mining also takes place in Katkadkullam
area while sea sand mining has reported from Sambaltivu and Kappathurai areas. Interior
sand mining has taken place in Athimoddai, Welgamvihara and Periya Kulam of Town and
Gravets DS divisions. Sand mining is also reported from Jinna Nagar of Kinniya DSD and
Poonchcholai of Muthur DSD. Sand removal in forests under the Forest Department is
regularised but not in other areas. Hence DSAM CCC should look into alternative sand
sources whilst controlling the sand mining in beach areas along the bay.
237. The Interim SMA Plan has identified gravel mining in Varodhaya Nagar, Palaiyuttu,
Mihindupura and Selva Nagar of Town & Gravets DSD. Gravel is widely used for rural road
construction and land filling. Gravel mining in highland areas close to the China bay to
Kinniya road needs to be stopped because mining removes vegetation cover and increases
soil erosion with the eroded soil carried to Thampalagamam bay. The Interim SMA Plan has
identified the following negative impacts in areas where gravel mining is taking place.
a. Removal of vegetation on hillocks which reduces scenic beauty;
b. Heavy soil erosion resulting in silt deposition on coral reef and sea grass
beds;
c. Emission of dust which may cause respiratory problems and loss of
scenic beauty.
9. Improper solid waste disposal
238. Improper disposal of solid waste is a problem for Trincomalee Urban Council (UC),
Kinniya and Muthur Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) of the SAMP area as is the case for many other
local government agencies in the country. Both Trincomalee UC and Kinniya PS are facing
difficulties in finding suitable solid waste disposal sites because of the lack of suitable lands.
The UC waste disposal site at Kinniya does not follow sanitary land fill techniques and has a
negative environmental impact.
239. Discussions with stakeholders revealed that solid waste is being used to fill mangrove
and other low lying areas adjoining the bay. It is necessary to stop this practice because such
dumping destroys coastal habitat and pollutes the water of the bay.
240. The Interim SMA Plan identified improper solid waste collection and disposal as a key
issue and suggested remedial action. It is necessary to have a holistic approach to the solid
waste management issue and a key component of this approach includes the 3R process
(Reduce, Re-use and Recycle). Composting, systematic disposal of hazardous waste,
sanitary land filling, specified processing systems for waste, support for effective waste
management from the general public and agencies, a responsible authority to implement the
system and proper monitoring and coordinating mechanisms are all elements of this
approach. The Interim SMA Plan has suggested most of these elements to develop
environment friendly solid waste management systems.