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New measures to tackle the problem; Defence Ministry warns garbage dumpers will be arrested
View(s):The Director of the National Solid Waste Management Support Centre (NSWMSC) of the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government Athula Illangasinghe told the SundayTimes that as a means of solving the prevailing garbage issue in the country, the Ministry has plans to initiate a series of projects.
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“One of the main complaints by the public is that the local councils do not collect garbage on time as a result of which they have to store garbage in their houses,” he said.Mr. Illangasinghe said that as a solution for this issue the Ministry with the assistance of the Moratuwa University is designing a software for a GPS tracking system for all vehicles collecting garbage. And this initiation will be effective in about two weeks.
According to Mr. Illangasinghe there is a shortage of vehicles deployed for garbage collection in the country and the Ministry is planning to utilise the local funds and tender 100 compactors from local suppliers. However, this process is said to take at least five months.
He added that there are also plans to build compost plants in the nine provinces. This is the idea that was presented in Parliament following the Meethotamulla tragedy. He claims a compost machine can handle 50 tonnes of bio degradable waste per day. A trial plant is operating in Kundasale. And the end product of the compost will be sold to the farmers and the public as a means of cost recovery.
Mr. Illangasinghe stated that the estimated cost of a compost plant will be Rs. 170 million, which includes Rs. 50 million required for the building. Meanwhile Military Spokesperson Roshan Seneviratne told the Sunday Times the Defence Ministry has a separate unit to monitor unwarranted garbage piles in Colombo and its suburbs and inform local government authorities for necessary action.
Brigadier Seneviratne said those who throw garbage at unauthorised places would be arrested and the police and the armed forces would be working in coordination with local councils to crack down on unauthorised garbage dumping.