Nuwara Eliya facing growing garbage mountains
The Asst. Commissioner of Local Gove r nment Nuwara Eliya District, Vidura Sampath speaking at the D i s t r i c t C o - o rd i n at i o n Committee meeting held late last month, said though he requested the Ministry of Plantations to make an allotment of land for the disposal of garbage collected from Hatton, Dickoya and Kandapola areas, no action had been taken by the ministry or plantation companies to release land for this purpose.
As such he said, a policy decision needed to be taken on the matter.
Mr. Sampath pointed out that though there was a garbage recycling plant at Rikatan which was up to standard and recommended by the Central Environment Authority, the prevailing wet weather conditions prevented garbage from being converted into compost fertiliser. As a result he said mountains of garbage were being formed as the plant did not have the capacity to handle the extra load collected from the Hatton, Dikoya and Kandapola areas. He added that resultantly garbage mountains were being formed.
The Asst. Commissioner said as a temporary measure part of this garbage was being sent for recycling to the recycling plant at Ambagamuwa once in two months. He emphasised there was an urgent need to find a permanent solution to the problem of garbage disposal.
He warned that during the Christmas season still more garbage would accumulate and the problem would be worsened. He stated polythene still comprised around 70% of the garbage collected.
Secretary to Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretariat, A. Saravana Bhavan addressing the meeting said recycling of garbage at Ambagamuwa was a temporary measure and also emphasised that finding a permanent solution for garbage disposal was an urgent necessity.
Mr. Sampat h pointed out that though the committee had discussed the issue on around 20 occassions, no solution had been forthcoming. He complained that despite so much land coming under the plantation ministry it seemed impossible to get that body to demarcate a plot of land for garbage disposal.
Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath Ekanayake chaired the District Co- ordination Meeting. State Minister V. Radha Krisnan, S. Thilakaraja M.P. Nuwara Eliya District, Councillors of the Central Provincial Council and Govt. Officials participated at the meeting.