AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE OF THE MATALE DISTRICT CENTRAL ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT. ENVIRONMENT & WOMEN'S AFFAIRS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE OF THE MATALE DISTRICT CEA Library A Report written by Prof.C.M.Madduma Bandara , Department of Geography University of Peradeniya for a study sponsored by the Central Environmental Authority with NORAD collaboration (i) PREPARED IN 1991 The findings , interpretations and conclusions expressed in this document do not necessarily represent the views of the Central Environmental Authority This document may be reproduced in full or in part with due acknowledgement to the Central Environmental Authority Formatted & printed by the Central Environmental Authority Maligawatte New Town .Colombo 10 , Sri Lanka. FOREWORD Sri Lanka's national energies and efforts during the last few decades have increasingly been towards the achievement of economic and social goals of development. However unplanned development , without due regard to the protection and management of the environment could lead to the reduction of the country ,s natural resource base and the degradation of the environment. The fruitful incorporation and integration of environmental considerations into the development strategies are fundamental to sustainable development. Unfortunately environmental concerns have not been incorporated into the planning process of some development projects and programmes. This has been mainly due to the lack of information on available human and natural resources , their utilization and development. The Central Environmental Authority launched a programme to prepare District Environmental Profiles for each of the districts within the Island to identify and review the human and natural resources , their utilization , and significant environmental problems , associated with each district. I am grateful to the Norwegian Embassy for Development Co-operation (NORAD) for providing the necessary financial assistance to carry out this project. The profiles have been prepared for the CEA by various competent and authoritative personnel and their ready cooperation in the successful completion of this exercise is duly acknowledged.The project has been managed by the Natural Resources Management Division of the CEA. • V * I trust this Environmental Profile would serve as a tool in the future development planning process for effective protection and management of the environment. G K Amaratunga CHAIRMAN CENTRAL ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITY August 1993 Mrs S E Yasaratne Director / Natural Resources Management Mr Anura Jayatilake Asst Director / Natural Resources Management Mr C Senevirathne Environmental Officer 1077 Natural Resources Management Division Central Environmental Authority 1 st Floor , New Secretariat Building , Maligawatte New Town , Colombo 10. (iv) CONTENTS Page Preface 01 Abbreviations 02 Chapter I Executive Summary 03 Chapter II : Main Recommendations 05 Chapter III : Environmental Setting and Human Resources 09 Chapter IV : Resources and Human Activities 28 Chapter V : Environmental Problems and Existing Management Structures 40 Chapter VI : Potential Resources and Management Strategies 52 Annex I List of Persons met by the Team 56 Annex II Bibliography 57 Appendix I : Hydrological Reservations on Private Lands 58 1 (v) PREFACE The Environmental Profile of the Matale District is the outcome of a study sponsored by the Central Environmental Authority in collaboration with Norwegian Development Corporation (NORAD). It is based on a comprehensive analysis of available data in the District and information gathered through field surveys and consultations with District administration, local environmental NGOs and the people. The field investigations began at a time when the country was passing through a period of serious civil disturbances. The communication network suffered badly, and local administration was disrupted in most areas. Some of the AGA Offices particularly in remote areas were destroyed totally. The field investigations had to be staggered and postponed several times under trying circumstances. Nevertheless, the cooperation extended by both Government officials as well as NGOs had facilitated the field surveys immensely. The support and encouragement provided at all times by Mr. E.W. Karalliyadda, the Government Agent, deserves special mention. Similarly Mr. Y.M.Dayaratna Banda (Additional GA) and Mr. Gamini Dassanayaka (Asst. Commisioner, Local Government and Secretary DEA) have spent much time and effort to help the survey team. The enthusiasm expressed in the survey by Mr. Gamini Jayatissa (Makulemada NGO) and Mr. Jinadasa Ekanayake (of Kaikawala NGO) and Rev. Batawal Sri Sorath (Kaludewala temple) had given much encouragement to the Survey Team. The AGAs of most Divisions, the MOH, and many officers of the Kachcheri and the Municipality supported our efforts in various ways. A full list of those who contributed by way of consultation is given in Annex-I of the Report. I wish to thank them all. Finally, I must record my appreciation of the excellent work done by the two field investigators, Mr. W.M. Navaratne, and Mr. Chandana Seneviratne. Cartographic Assistance was provided by Ms. Swarna Seneviratne. It is our fervent hope that, the findings and recommendations of this report will be utilized by those involved in environmental management activities in the Matale District. CM. Madduma Bandara University Park, Peradeniya December 1991. 1 Abbreviations Used ACLG - Assistant Commissioner of Local Government AGA - Assistant Government Agent CTC - Ceylon Tobacco Company DANIDA - Danish International Development Agency DEA - District Environmental Agency DLUP - District Land Use Planner GA - Government Agent GSN - Grama Seva Niladari IFS - Institute of Fundamental Studies IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature IRDP - Integrated Rural Development Project LUPPD - Land Use Policy Planning Division, Ministry of Lands MOH - Medical Officer of Health NBRO - National Building Research Organization NGO - Non-Governmental Organization NORAD - Norwegian Development Corporation UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund 2 CHAPTER I Executive Summary The Environmental Profile of the Matale District Provides an account of the environmental setting of the District, the status of its natural and human resources, trends in resource use, current environmental concerns and management measures. It also attempts to indicate possible strategies for sustainable development and efficient environmental management in the future. Since the coverage of above themes had been wide, the method of approach had to be necessarily consultative than systematic scientific research. Thus a number of Government officials, municipal authorities, development agencies personnel and representatives of NGOs were met from time to time, both individually and at meetings organized through the District Environment Agency(DEA). The continued dialogue with some of the NGOs, and participation at their public functions enabled the research team to gain an understanding of the public concern in environmental issues. The Matale District is characterized by its natural diversity as it spreads across all major ecological regions of Sri Lanka. Thus climatically its variation from Dry zone, to Wet zone, through a wide belt of intermediate conditions sets the background for many environmental issues. Similarly, the elevational range of the terrain from low lands below 100m to those above 1500m had resulted in a variety of land uses, human activities and settlements. Therefore, the general approach to environmental planning in the Matale District has to take into account the basic factor of natural diversity. It means that centralized planning may not prove desirable since it may fail to encompass much of ground reality. One possible approach would be to use the AGA Division as the unit of planning and environmental management even though it forms only an administrative demarcation. It is in recognition of this fact, that much of the information presented in the Report is given by AGA divisions(Table 1.1). This is also in line with the current Government Policy of administrative decentralization. Compared with most other districts, Matale could be considered as relatively better endowed in mineral resources. There are sizeable deposits of mica, gems, feldspar and crystalline limestones. However, the rate of exploitation of these minerals is high and the sustainability of extractive industries based on them may become uncertain as time goes on. Therefore, the application of rapid extraction technologies such as mechanized gem mining have to be considered carefully. Similarly, environmental problems arising from them such as the incidence of Malaria have to be monitored regularly. Once of the reasons for indiscriminate exploitation of these resources is the fact that they are often owned and operated by interest groups outside the District. The district may have to develop a more 'protectionist attitude' in the future, if the exploitation of non­ renewable resources is to be maintained at sustainable levels. The two major environmental concerns of the District as emerged at various discussions are deforestation and water scarcity. These two problems which are closely interrelated, often lead to other environmental concerns such as soil erosion, siltation and water-borne diseases. The incidence of malaria and dysentery are major health problems in the District. They arise from water pollution, particularly in and around