Despite ‘Clean SL’ campaign… UDA allows Garbage Dump in Kotte

Residents have repeatedly complained to the local authorities and the UDA about the severe environmental disaster being caused in lands between Muruththetuwa Road and Buwanekaba Mawatha in Mirihana, but to no avail

Despite repeated complaints by local state authorities and residents at Mirihana in Kotte, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and its officials are turning a blind eye to the severe environmental devastation of UDA land due to the dumping of garbage and house waste. 

Until recent times, the land belonging to UDA had been a lush green paddy field with varieties of birds and other animals frequenting the place, but not anymore due to the allowing of human encroachment and dumping of garbage. Sometimes the culprits are outsiders. 

This areas is located between Muruththetuwa Road and the Buwanekaba Mawatha in Mirihana. A few years ago, the marshland was to be converted into an environmental friendly site with walking paths and ponds. But as of now, this land has been allowed to be misused with unlawfully encroached also visible.  

Drug addicts burn electronics

The garbage dump has become a sorry sight with frequent visits made here by drug addicts. These individuals burn wires and other plastic based electronic equipment throughout the night to collect copper and other metals. These activities have become a severe disturbance for the residents who have to go sleepless throughout the night as a result.

Residents have repeatedly complained to the local authorities and the UDA about the severe environmental disaster being caused, but so far no action had been taken. 

“Sometimes when the electrical wires and electrical items are burnt there is an unbearable stench which gives an odour of strong chemical being burnt. When our houses are filled with this smoke it feels like we are living in gas chambers,” a mother in the area lamented. 

Gramasevaka’s complaints not heeded Local authorities and Gramasevakas have raised the issue at the official meetings at the Maharagama Division Secretariat, but the discussion on the particular land hadn’t been taken into consideration. 

“We raised this issue at several meetings where the UDA officials were present, but the discussions were diverted to something else or sometime different. Officials give excuses saying they were not aware of it,” a local official of the Maharagama Division, who did not want to be named, stated. 

The residents complained that in the middle of the night outsiders bring garbage in three wheelers and motorbikes and dump it there. This site has also become a dumping ground for building debris and other construction waste. 

The resident also charged that despite complaints made to 119 of the Sri Lanka Police over severe disturbance at night, such efforts had not produced result. “Our complaints over the telephone had been recorded, but no action had been taken,” the resident said. 

 A resident who used to cultivate the land complained that the UDA took control of the land saying that there is a project to be completed. But it seems that the authorities had allowed many unlawful activities to be carried out and they were turning a blind eye to it. 

“We voted for this government at least hoping that the politicised system of these government institutions would be changed. But it seems that nothing has changed. Destruction of government lands has been continuing,” a disappointed Mirihana voter said charged. 

Garbage dump in UDA Land