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Minister solving Colombo’s garbage issue by creating a problem here: Protestors
Residents, religious representatives and politicians have been holding several protests charging that the Aruwakkalu sanitary land fill was not being operated as it was assured earlier.
Friday's protest
Around 1000 residents participated in the latest protest on Friday.
Religious leaders who also were among the protectors voiced their concern over the manner in which garbage was being disposed of in the area.
Among those present were Chief Incumbent Of the Buddhist Centre in Puttalam, Ven. Udukadana Kusaladamma Thera Kurukkal S.Sundarama, Moulavi Abdullah Mohomad Ali and Wanathawillu Parish Priest Christy Perera.
The protestors said the assurance made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka that the proposed sanitary landfill would be operated according to the highest international standards were mere words..
They said the Minister promised that only segregated and compacted dry garbage would be used for the sanitary landfill, but non segregated smelly garbage containing polythene too was being transported from Colombo and being dumped at the landfill.
Rev. Christi Perera told the Sunday Times that the Minister Ranawaka is removing garbage from Colombo by creating a garbage problem at Aruwakkalu.
The controversial landfill site
“He is clearing the Colombo garbage and making their problem our problem. The whole area smells as open tippers are bringing wet and smelly garbage. Some of the muck falls off the trucks while being transported to the site, contaminating the whole area.
W.N Wasantha (38) a resident who lives by the lagoon nearby said the lagoon was polluted by the ashes emitted from the Norochcholai power plant, now the area is getting polluted by the garbage dumped at Aruwakkalu. He said that they are unable to step out of their homes because of the foul smell and swarms of flies.
Representing an area youth organisation Lahiru Weeerasekara said that the Megapolis and Western Development Minister is trying to show that he has found a solution for Colombo’s garbage but he is only doing so by bringing the garbage to Aruwakkalu.
Meanwhile the garbage truck drivers complain they are being overworked and this had even resulted in a couple of collisions. One driver said they could not even take a break while driving a stretch of about 170 kms from Kerawalapitiya to Wanathavilluwa as the people would not allow them to stop on the way.
