By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW):The Government has begun preparation work on a master plan for developing Nuwara Eliya to preserve the scenic beauty and ban the construction of buildings above four storeys in the major tourist city.
The move aims to put an end to the unplanned spreading out of buildings in Nuwara Eliya which is included in the Government’s New Town Development Plan and Nuwara Eliya Tourism Plan.
“President Wickremesinghe in his recent visit to Nuwara Eliya emphasized the importance of developing the district as a striking city that can attract tourists throughout the year.
He also insisted on plans prioritizing to create a pleasant environment for tourists to relax rather than focusing on constructing large and tall buildings,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.
He said the Cabinet of Ministers approved the appointment of a task force to come up with the Master Plan for Nuwara Eliya and to limit the construction of new buildings above four storeys in the Nuwara Eliya district from 1 May.
The task force will be headed by the Governor of the Central Provinces under the coordination of the President’s Office with the contribution of all relevant parties.
The Urban Development Authority has been given authority to issue required regulations stipulated by its Act.
The Cabinet has noted that the beauty of the city of Nuwara Eliya is gradually decreasing due to the improper development that is being carried out in the Nuwara Eliya area and it has greatly affected the tourism industry.
Therefore, the need to prepare a detailed tourism development master plan has arisen in order to create the necessary environment for the growth of tourism in the area, a statement on the cabinet decisions said.
Accordingly the cabinet of ministers has approved the proposals tabled by the President to prepare the Nuwara Eliya Tourism Development Master Plan under the coordination of the Presidential Secretariat with the involvement of all relevant parties.
Furthermore, the cabinet approval has been granted to appoint a task force headed by the Governor of the Central Provinces to regulate the construction of new buildings and to impose regulations in accordance with the provisions of the Urban Development Authority Act.
