Nuwara Eliya: 1,500ha to get protected status

A decision has been taken to gazette 1,500 hectares of land associated with key water sources and watershed mountain areas belonging to the Department of Forest Conservation in Nuwara Eliya as protected areas, the Ministry of Environment said.

The decision was taken at a special District Coordinating Committee meeting held on Saturday (28) at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat, aimed at strengthening environmental conservation, promoting sustainable tourism and protecting the district’s watershed areas.

The Ministry said immediate measures would be taken to safeguard environmentally sensitive and watershed zones, with the relevant areas to be gazetted as protected areas in the near future.

The meeting also directed officials to expedite the issuance of Environmental Protection Licences (EPLs) to hotels and other business establishments operating in the Nuwara Eliya tourist zone through a proper mechanism.

Continuous inspections are also to be carried out to prevent the pollution of water sources, particularly by ensuring the proper treatment and disposal of wastewater from hotels and other establishments.

Once the 1,500 hectares in Nuwara Eliya receive protected status, activities such as construction, road development, land clearing, excavation and other forms of development could be prohibited or made subject to prior approval, depending on the legal framework under which the areas are gazetted.

The proposed move is expected to strengthen the protection of key water sources and watershed areas while helping prevent illegal deforestation, soil erosion and other environmentally harmful activities.

The restrictions could also have implications for tourism and other development projects within the designated areas, particularly hotels, roads and other infrastructure, as developers may be required to obtain additional environmental clearances.

At the same time, the designation could help safeguard the district’s fragile mountain ecosystems, protect water catchments and reduce the risk of environmental degradation and natural disasters such as landslides.

The Government’s decision is also likely to have implications for existing cultivation and other activities carried out in the affected areas, with the precise restrictions depending on the provisions of the relevant Gazette and the laws under which protected status is granted.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody, Deputy Education Minister Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, Nuwara Eliya Mayor, MP Manjula Suraweeraarachchi and other public representatives, together with Environment Ministry Secretary K. R. Uduwawala, the District Secretary, Additional Secretaries and senior government officials.