Residents in Nawala Koswatte up in arms over apartment complex construction
View(s):A seven storeyed high-rise apartment complex with 16 apartments coming up in Koswatte Road Nawala, Wettasinghe Mawatha and Hemasinghe Mawatha in a highly residential area is posing a serious environmental threat to residents in the neighbourhood, residents complained.
An old house has been demolished with the purchase of the land and construction of the apartment complex has commenced without the proper approval of relevant authorities causing severe inconvenience for 200 residents living in over 40 houses in the vicinity, they alleged.
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has not approved the apartment complex project as such a development is causing a major environmental and health hazards to the residents, they claimed.
Following an inspection, the Director of the CEA Western Province Office has informed in writing to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Commissioner that the apartment complex builder has not taken any approval or recommendation from the CEA.
According to the CEA letter dated 09-06-2016 (a copy which is in possession of the Business Times), the property developer has not used any method to control noise and air pollution arising out of their construction work.
The CEA inspection team has found that the construction work of the new building is now underway and residents were suffering from the emission of dust and they also cannot have a proper night’s rest due to the construction work being carried out in the night as well. Some are also compelled to wear face masks as a precaution against dust.
Residents have lodged complaints and protests to the Municipal Commissioner Sri Jayawardenapura who has approved the project without considering the serious environment and health hazards that is being caused to all the residents living in the area.
With the construction of the apartment complex, in addition to environmental and health hazards, major problems will be faced by residents in terms of water supply, sewage disposal, garbage disposal and serious damage to the residencies in and around the building site causing damage by pilling, heavy vehicular movements, a resident told the Business Times.
No approvals have been obtained from Water Board, CEA and other state agencies on the damage caused to the land and it would appear that soil tests that need to be carried out do not appear to have been done for the construction of such an apartment complex, he pointed out.
However when contacted the Deputy Head of the property development company told the Business Times they have obtained all necessary approvals and clearance from relevant authorities including the CEA to go ahead with the project .
He noted that they stopped the construction work for one month from August 26 to September 25 following a directive from the Environment Police Unit Welikada Rajagiriya on a complaint lodged by residents.
He said that the CEA has informed him in writing on 29-09-2016 that the approval of the authority is not necessary for condominium projects.
All precautionary measures have been taken to prevent air and noise pollution and instructions were given to stop the construction work at 5 pm daily to ensure no inconvenience to residents.