Haphazard garbage dumping continues unabated

If anyone wishes to have a glimpse of the Karadiyana hellhole, he or she should avoid days when MPS or other VIPS visit the area, but should make an impromptu visit to Karadiyana and its surroundings to experience what is really happening here, voiced the residents who live closer to the Karadiyana garbage dump.

Despite the CCTV cameras fixed at vantage points and hoardings cautioning those who discreetly dump garbage on the way sides, littering of the public places in the vicinity of Karadiyana by those who throw away bags full of garbage continues unabated. This wanton act had led to the blockade of the canals in the area.

There are many who arrive in vehicles and throw their garbage by the road sides, and when the law provides for immediate arrest of those who commit this act, the police officers at the Karadiyana police post appear to be in a deep slumber.

The residents charge that before decisions are taken to manage the mountain of garbage at Karadiyana, the dumping of garbage by the road side should receive more priority. Some time back a garbage wagon was parked in the area for the residents to dump their garbage into it, but now it appears that this wagon had been moved away. Though they say that the authorities are following this matter, it is actually being done by the residents themselves.

When this matter was posed to the Director of Western Province Waste Management Authority Nalin Mannapperuma he said that the police officials at the Karadiyana police check point have been instructed to take into custody those who leave their garbage on the roadside. Saying that garbage is not the problem of one individual or a group, it is an issue that needs the joint support of everyone to resolve it. Cleaning of Karadiyana for special events is not something peculiar to the area, but it is a usual practice in keeping up with traditions.

He assured that the follow-up scheme adopted in Karadiyana would continue in minimizing the damage caused to the environment by the Karadiyana garbage dump, and action should be taken promptly against those who throw away their garbage violating the regulations.

garbage is not the problem of one individual or a group, it is an issue that needs the joint support of everyone to resolve it