Environmental Issues
The 1999 EIA study received conditional approval from the Central Environmental
Authority (CEA). In the CEA's letter of approval for the 1999 study, three of the
conditions related to moving the trace to avoid traversing the Weras ganga/Bolgoda,
Koggala, Madu Ganga and other wetlands as far as possible. The Final Trace arrived at
during the detailed design stage contain two major deviations from the Combined
Trace defined in the 1999 EIA.These deviations impacted land acquisition,
resettlement, and environmental management. At detailed design stage further studies
- updated Social Impact Assessment (November 2000), Environmental Findings Report
(December 2000), Drainage Report (May 2003) ; were conducted to supplement the
1999 EIA. The CEA approved Environmental Management Plan of October 2004, was
later updated and endorsed by CEA in May 2005. Further studies on the deviated trace
and the Galle Access road were conducted (Supplementary Environmental Assessment
Report - August 2006) and the Environmental Management Plan updated. While some
of the impacts are irreversible, other impacts could be managed through adoption of
the mitigation measures detailed in the EMP.Periodic water quality, air and noise
monitoring are undertaken as described in the EMP. The revised EMP bssed on 4-lane
works was endorsed by CEA on 3 september 2007 and is being implemented. ADB has
provided a TA to improve the monitoring capacity of Environmental and Social
Devision of RDA in February 2009.
Social Issues
The Resettlement Implementation Plan for the Southern Transport Development
Project (LA 1771) was approved by ADB in October 2002. This was prepared to
address involuntary resettlement impacts of the entire length of the expressway, from
Kottawa to Matara and the Galle Access road. The government has acquired lands for
the six-lane expressway but at the initial stage it was decided as a two lane
expressway. The involuntary resettlement program, land acquisition, compensation
and resettlement of APs experienced several set backs from its inception in 2000
because of a series of court cases filed APs regarding changes in ROW, lack of
consultation and information disclosure, and delays in land acquisition under
the present Land Acquisition Act.
In October 2002 the RIP estimated , based on Inventory of Losses survey, that 951
Ha. of lands were to be acquired for the project. The extent acquired was 1079 ha. in
July 2006 because of the risks associated with some households encounter from
water-logging, land slides in slopes, location of houses too close to the expressway,
and lack of access to houses. It was also estimated that as a result of the acquisition of
lands, 5683 households would be affected of which 1315 households would lose their
homesteads, compelling them to relocate elsewhere. Among the affected 214
households (16%) were considered as vulnerable, who needed special assistance to
restore their incomes. According to the information available from RDA in July 2006
the number of households affected were about 5800 and the total affected persons
were about 19,340. the physically displaced increased from 1315 to 1326 and
commercial establishments affected decreased from 152 in 2002 to 102 in 2006.
About 35% of the 1326 displaced households were relocated at 32 resettlement
sites.The project has substantially completed the payment of compensation and LARC
payments for all acquired property and the resettlement displaced people. At the end
of July 2006 , 96 % of APs have received compensation. In the ADB section 99%
of acquired land have been paid statutory compensation and LARC payments. Some
have not been paid LARC payments and interests because of court cases regarding
land ownership. The government fully financed the land acquisition and resettlement
program , at a cost over Rs.4.2 billion.
A course of action was formulated in 2005 on the recommendation of Compliance
Review Panel (CRP) to bring to compliance as per ADB's Involuntary Resettlement
Policy safeguards. The SLRM continually submits progress reports. The RDA had
contracted SEEDs to implement Income Restoration Program. However, due to poor
performance of SEEDs, RDA terminated the contract and is implementing IRP by itself.
This program will restore income and improve living conditions of the severely affected
persons. This program has identified 1050 APs including 266 vulnerable households to
improve their incomes. The external monitoring of resettlement impacts is being done
by a NGO, CEPA from April 2006.
A fatal accident happend in the ADB funded section of the Highway on 26 May 2006. A
metal underpass has collapsed and one pedestrian has died on the spot. ADB has
requested the Road Development Authority to conduct an inquiry regarding the
collapse of the metal Underpass at Km 24+100. In ADB's preliminary inquiries it has
been found that the underpass has been under repair on the date of the accident. The
repair was ongoing and not completed at the time of the accident.
The Secretary of Ministry of Highways and Road Development ( Excecuting Agency)
has appointed a three member independent committee at request of the President of
Sri Lanka to investigate this tragic incident and undertake the full technical evaluation.
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Rehabilitation of Irrigation Channels & Leaderway Drains