Dumping Colombo’s garbage in Arawakkadu: A disaster in the making?
It has been in the news these days that garbage of Colombo and the suburbs is to be transported by rail for disposal in Arawakkadu, an area bordering the Wilpattu National Park. There are over 100 elephants who inhabit this area and this move would be a definite death knell to them and many other wild animals big and small which abound in the area.
The purported dump sites are within the area claimed by Holcim and are disused excavation pits which were dug for the extraction of lime stone for the manufacture of cement.
The rail network used to transport the lime stone from Arawakkadu to the cement factory at Puttlam is probably to be used for the transport of the garbage to its sites via Puttalam.
The stench that will emanate from this site in addition to the flies, will affect the thousands of people from the villages of Karaitivu, Tirikkapallama, Gangewadiya, Serakuli, Eluwankulam and even Wanathavillu and of Kalpitiya, a popular tourist destination which is only a few kilometres across the Puttlam Lagoon, from the site.
This stench will definitely attract elephants from the sanctuary to the dumpsite and will cause an elephantine problem.
The seepage from the garbage dumped into these deep pits with the collection of rain water will certainly contaminate the adjoining Puttlam Lagoon, the nearby Kala Oya and catastrophically the deep underground water channels which will eventually pollute and render unusable the deep water and other wells which the people of the area depend on for their survival.
Though several attempts have been made by environmental organisations to put a stop to this ill-conceived project, it seems that it is well underway from what has been reported. It is still not too late for all concerned wildlife enthusiasts and environmentalists to raise a joint voice against this venture.
If the argument of the entities favouring the project is that this will not harm the environment nor affect the wildlife of the area etc since the disposal will be done in a scientific and methodical manner, let them find a site within their province.
The people in the villages mentioned are fishermen, farmers and small time traders who have no way of voicing their opinion whilst most of them are not even aware of the impending and looming disaster which is to befall their communities if the envisaged project goes ahead.
It is also alarming to note that some very vociferous politicians who represent the people of the area have not made any significant representation or any agitation to avert this impending disaster.
Kiyaz Deen Colombo 7