Garbage-free Colombo in three months - Environment Minister

The garbage problem in Colombo will be solved within the next three months. A joint action is being taken in this direction by the CMC, Provincial Garbage Management Project, UDA, Environment Ministry and the CEA's Pilisaru projet, Environment and Natural Resources Minister and Colombo District UPFA candidate Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

The Minister made this assurance at a press conference at Kerawalapitiya recently.

The Minister said 600 tons of garbage is collected in Colombo daily. The garbage dumping grounds in Colombo had exceeded their capacity. Now a 43 acre site in Muthurajawela has been released for solving the Colombo garbage problem.

Earlier it could not be released due to security reasons.

Ranawaka said a land had not been provided to dump Colombo's garbage for the past 30 years. As such present dumping grounds like Kadirayana had been completely devastated. Garbage would not be dumped at Kolonnawa any more as the dumping grounds was earmarked for rehabilitation. Dumping at Kadirayana too would be stopped shortly. Dumped at Bloemendhal too had been stopped six months ago.

Ranawaka said a garbage management site would be set up at Muthurajawela.

The Ministry had received 15 to 20 project proposals from the private sector.

The successful bidder whether it was the private or the public sector would have to implement the project according to the specifications made by a professional team led by Dr. Mahesh Jayaweera of the Katubedda University.

The Minister said the Colombo Municipal Council had become helpless over the garbage problem in the city.

The reason had been the lack of a proper site and a suitable program of work.