Periyathampanai (Sri Lanka): Demining experts
in Sri Lanka are struggling over the unpredictable pattern of
LTTE landmines that are obstructing the resettlement of
displaced Tamils by January 5 deadline here.
"There is no set pattern of landmines laid by the LTTE
landmines and we confront with various challenges," Major K
Raju, who was also in Indian army told reporters.
Raju and his team of mining experts from Swiss Foundation
for Mine Action (FSD) commerced work in north-western Mannar
district and have now cleared their way towards
Periyathampanai and Pannivirichchan in Vavuniya district.
The former Indian armymen has been engaged in this task
for the last seven years and said the families after moving in
will have to follow a route map while getting in and out of
their houses to avoid any mines outside the cleared area.
There are plans to provide security to guide people
before entire area is cleared of mines in the weeks ahead and
impart mine education for the returning population.
The unpredictable landmines pattern, poor visibility
because of thick jungles in the terrain was slowing the
demining progress, Raju said.
He added that the landmines had been planted in clusters
in some areas that lead to multiple explosions. Over 1000
mines have been recovered from the area since the end of last
month.
The total number of mines in northern Sri Lanka over the
years is estimated at 1.5 million and the officials from FSD
said since starting operations in 2002, the organisation had
so far cleared 2 lakh sq metres of land mine, over 4589 anti
personnel mines besides anti-tank mines.
The cost of clearing land mines is around USD 3 per sq
metre, Raju said, adding the peculiarity of LTTE was that it
planted mines as deep as 13 cms as against the usual norm of
around 10 cms.
While it is possible only to clear about 15 to 20 sq
metres of landmines area a day through the manual system, the
flailing machines imported from Croatia and Slovakia can clear
mines ranging from 5000-7000 sq metres a day.
The Sri Lankan government has said it was making every
effort to resettle over one lakh remaining Tamil IDPs back to
their homes in Wanni by January 31.
The main impediment has been the landmines which is now
being cleared by six demining teams operating with the Sri
Lankan army in the areas where the IDPs have to be resettled.
PTI
First Published: Monday, December 28, 2009, 16:18