UNSCRUPULOUS BUSINESS ON AN ILLEGALLY FILLED MARSHY LAND IN WATTALA

Illegal business poses threat to residents, environment in Hendala

The soil businessman is a relative of a powerful politician. That’s how he is operating the business without any concern or fear DHARMARATHNA

A large number of people including school children use the Canal Bund Road daily. People can’t walk since the road has become a mud puddle RANJAN KANNAN

People should be aware of these types of unscrupulous businesses. They are selling soil after mixing them with garbage RANGE BANDARA

Residents including school children of Hendala, Wattala face grave inconveniences due to a an illegal business which is being operated on an illegally filled land near the Canal Bund Road in the area.

A marshy land had been filled illegally to create a land for a business establishment blocking two canals which carried water into the Kalu Ela, residents said.

The land can be seen filled with garbage on a large scale apart from the soil. Due to constant arrival of tipper trucks at the land carrying soil, the Canal Bund Road has sunken and the road has become muddy.

It was reported that the business establishment sells soil after mixing them with garbage. Garbage is being dumped at the location secretly during the night and residents were able to bust such an attempt recently.

Garbage collected at the land create a foul smell and coconut shells, tins and tyres scattered around the ground have become a haven for mosquitoes.

Speaking about the nuisance, Maryland Housing Scheme Residents Association’s former president Ranjan Kannan said they had been suffering from the issue for several years.

We can’t even invite someone important to our houses because they have to come through illegally filled land which is filled with garbage. It is during the night they unload garbage at the land. We caught them red-handed recently when dumping garbage at night. The one who brought garbage is a politician based in the area

“We can’t even invite someone important to our houses because they have to come through illegally filled land which is filled with garbage. It is during the night they unload garbage at the land. We caught them red-handed recently when dumping garbage at night. The one who brought garbage is a politician based in the area. We video recorded him unloading garbage. We believe discards from meat stalls are also among the garbage.

A large number of people including school children use the Canal Bund Road daily. People can’t walk since the road has become a mud puddle. This business has political backing. They don’t take notice of people’s oppositions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha member and the Environmental Committee member Randika Range Bandara said he has been raising his voice over the issue since he was elected to the council.

He said he visited the location with PS Chairman Thyagarathne Alwis and showed him the current situation.

“The soil is being dumped on an illegally filled marshy land. No action was being taken against the landfilling. The area has become an eyesore because of this business and it has created a haven for dengue mosquitoes. Tyres are filled with water. People can’t walk near the land because of the unbearable stench. We will take all action necessary to be taken in this regard,” he said.

Mr Range Bandara said the business was being operated at his constituency; Hendala-south. “People should be aware of these types of unscrupulous businesses. They are selling soil after mixing them with garbage,” he said.

K. Dharmarathna, another Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha member and an Environmental Committee member, said. The soil businessman is a relative of a powerful politician.

“That’s how he is operating the business without any concern or fear. As the Environmental Committee of the PS, we informed this businessman to erect a wall surrounding the land so that garbage won’t flow out to the road. But he is not heeding to any advice. Can’t take any legal action because of political influence.

However, we will continue to voice opposition and take action until this establishment is out of this place,” Mr Dharmarathna said.

He said they visited the location recently along with PS Secretary, Health officials, Public Health Inspectors, Agrarian Service officer, Grama Sevaka Officer and others to witness the situation.

“They were able to see the current situation at the land with their own eyes. We believe these officers will take necessary action against the perpetrator since the land had been filled illegally blocking canals which lead to Kalu Ela. We also hope to launch a protest against this business establishment,” he said.

When inquired from Wattala PS Secretary Wasanthi Wickramaratne, she said necessary action will be taken against the perpetrator at the Pradeshiya Sabha level and that she would inform the Wattala Divisional Secretary in writing about the illegal landfilling.