BELLANVILA JOGGING PARK, A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD
Pools of stagnant water creating mosquito breeding grounds
Thousands of people using the Bellanvila Jogging Park expressed concern about its dilapidated state due to neglect and misuse. They pointed out that the jogging park and its surroundings had turned into an eyesore with heaps of garbage left without any attention.
The people who come to the jogging park to recruit physical fitness said they were facing hardship due to the neglect of maintenance of the tracks and the surrounding area.
A resident of Piliyandala area D.L. Jayantha Perera who takes physical excises at the jogging park every morning said the misuse of the jogging park as a venue for other purposes including drinking parties was going on unchecked and that the individuals concerned had left heaps of solid waste including empty bottles and polythene.
“I am in the habit of calling over at the jogging park walk several rounds along the tracks enjoying the cooling breeze of fresh air for about two hours. However, the beauty of the jogging park and its surroundings has been marred by the activities of unscrupulous individuals. During heavy rain garbage is drifted by storm water into the nearby canals. When the free flow of the canals and drains are obstructed, they turn into mosquito breeding grounds. Swarms of mosquitoes and flies infest the jogging park creating a serious health hazard. The broken down protective fences allow the entry of thieves and robbers” He said.
A resident of Nugegoda H.C. Jagathsiri said he takes a long journey by car to the jogging park in the hope of recruiting health, but environment of the jogging park is not conducive to health.
“Recently a doctor examined me to find red spots in several places of the body and he was of the opinion that I had been stung by mosquitoes. Quite often I find the car park under water and so is the jogging park. The storm water drains obstructed with garbage are pools of stagnant water creating mosquito breeding grounds. Swarms of mosquitoes enter the car just as I open the door to get down. ” Jagathsiri said.
They requested the authorities to clean the jogging park regularly and not to neglect its maintenance in this manner. They said the jogging park would be in ruins before long , if proper maintenance was neglected.
They said the jogging park would be in ruins before long , if proper maintenance was neglected