News
Walking tracks turn into danger zones
Taking a stroll down a once-popular walking track in a Colombo suburb has become hair-raising with lurking crocs and vipers frightening those who want to use the path for pleasure and exercise.
Beware of the crocodiles in the canal alongside the walking track in Wattala
While the track in Mabole, Wattala is the worst walking experience, several other public walking paths and parks in Colombo and suburbs are also suffering from neglect, with the risk that they will fall into disuse.
More than four crocodiles in the canal alongside the Mabole walkway are able to get to the path undetected.
The canal is filled with Japanese water plant which, apart from being unsightly, covers the path, masking the whereabouts of the creatures. The solar-powered lights are not functioning, either broken or because parts have been stolen.
The Wattala Mabole Physical Fitness Society (WMPFS) has complained to the Urban Development Authority, road development and local governmental authorities with no result, the society’s secretary, Raphley Fernando, said.
“They pass responsibility onto others while the users of the path seem to be crocodile bait,” he said. “We asked for a fence along a track but they excuse themselves by saying that they lack funds.”
Mabole, Wattala: One of the worst neglected walking tracks. Pix by Amila Gamage
Mr. Fernando said every morning people taking early morning walks find a crocodile or two near the canal bank.
People face a constant threat from vipers as well, he said.
Drug addicts roaming the area at night have stolen the solar power lamps and other lights did not work due to lack of maintenance, Mr. Fernando said.
A frequent jogger, M.R.M. Rizni, said that the weed-infested canal was cleaned during the time of the past regime but after the change of government it was neglected.
He said the Wattala Municipal Council provided one worker and a weed-cutting machine twice a week but the man was only allowed to work for two hours.
“A single man could not maintain an 1800m-long track,” he said.
He said residents had asked the council to remove the water weed in the canal but it “got away” saying the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), Urban Development Authority (UDA) and Irrigation Department were responsible because the council lacked resources and technicians.
“They didn’t fix lights claiming that they did not have technical staff and they got away from building the fences and cleaning up the canal saying they are short of funds and that the canal should be maintained by the Irrigation Department,” Mr. Rizni said.
He said the members of the walking community each collected Rs. 200 monthly and hired people to sweep as well as pay for the petrol of the mower provided by the council to keep the path clear of weeds.
“I come here to take in some fresh air in the morning to calm my nerves but when I get here I get a foul smell and leave the place, particularly in fear when I see the 15-foot crocodiles,” another resident, Mr. A. Tharangal said.
Public Health Inspector K.A.A. Abeyratne denied there was garbage in the canal and added that the council could not risk lives by sending workers to clear the crocodile-infested canal.
He also said a worker and grass-cutting equipment and petrol was provided by the council and denied that the fitness society paid for fuel.
An official of the Wattala Urban Council claimed the walking path solar-powered light system had been installed by PRDA technicians with funding from the Economic Development Ministry and therefore the council did not have technicians geared to maintain the track.
Walking track in Borella (above) and the track close to the National Archives building in Colombo (left) Pic by Nissanka Meegoda
He also said it was difficult for the council to move huge barges to the sides of the lake to remove water weed and that this would cost a great deal.
The Wattala walking path is only one of several jogging tracks that are not maintained. The Mahara jogging track’s parking area is flooded with water and the small nearby lake is filled with floating plastic bags and discarded beer cans.
Over past weeks, the Bellanwilla walking path was not being maintained but the area was seen being cleared on Friday.
The walking path at Nagahamulla in Pelawatte is overgrown with grass and the paving stones of the track have fallen apart.
Colombo Municipal Council Commissioner V.K.A. Anura said the municipality was taking required action to maintain Economic Development Ministry projects that had been handed over to it but that maintenance of walking paths, for example at the racecourse, Independence Square and arcade are in the care of the UDA.
He also denied that the jogging tracks are not maintained well. Mr. Anura said green areas such as the Philip Gunawardena Grounds at Kirulapone are being repaired and new buildings being constructed.
He said the Viharamahadevi Park had been repaired but to adverse weather the drainage system had developed problems and it had become muddy.
M.R.M. Rizni
An RDA official speaking on condition of anonymity said that the walking paths had been built by the PRDA and monitored and funded by the Economic Development Ministry but after the change of government that ministry had been terminated, leaving some paths unattached to any authority.
“The paths were not handed over properly and the PRD, UDA and local governments each does not take charge of the paths and toss the responsibility to each other,” he said.
UDA Director G.W.G. Abegunawardena said some paths such as the Pettah Floating Market walking paths were maintained by the UDA and were well-maintained but that Wattala and some other areas were in the care of the provincial councils and other government authorities.