Spotlight on Sarvodayapuram open dump yard facility

The Garbage that has been carelessly disposed of at Sarvodayapuram is now a dangerous buffet for elephants
Pix by Kithsiri De Mel 

• Waste has been flung to either side of the road leading into the Sarvodayapuram open dump yard
• The four-hectare area is a migratory route for elephants travelling from Kumana to Lahugala via Kudumbigala-Panama sanctuary

Sarvodayapuram garbage dump:- The satellite images of the Sarvodayapuram garbage dump as seen from Google Maps

The Sarvodayapuram open dump yard, located a few kilometres away from the popular Arugambay tourism stretch, is a looming environmental hazard. During our recent visit to the site spread over approximately four hectares of land adjacent to an environmentally sensitive area, the Daily Mirror observed how municipal solid waste had been haphazardly dumped on either side of the road leading up to the actual dump yard.  
Death trap for elephants?
At the time we visited this location, a lone elephant was already feeding on polythene and plastic. The Daily Mirror learned that this expanse of land also serves as a migratory route for elephants travelling from Kumana to Lahugala via Kudumbigala-Panama sanctuary. Polythene entangled in elephant dung scattered along either side of the road indicated the extent to which elephant herds thrive on solid waste. Research studies indicate that the presence of non-digestible materials such as plastics in an elephant’s digestive system could cause constipation and other digestive issues. Sri Lanka gained the spotlight on this issue when Hollywood sensation and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio tweeted about garbage-foraging elephants of Sri Lanka. The country’s open dump yards in Dambulla, for instance, have been attracting elephant herds living in close proximity, and conservationists have been raising concerns about this phenomenon for many years. But the state of this severely neglected open dump yard spoke volumes about the inefficiency of the authorities. 
Institutional oversight  
The Daily Mirror observed how a separate area had been demarcated for dumping garbage in addition to a severely neglected waste segregation facility that had been set up many years ago. Even though this area has enough space to accommodate garbage disposed of on a daily basis, most garbage lorries conveniently dump garbage on either side of the road, set fire to it and leave despite the fact that open burning of solid waste poses a severe threat to the environment. According to the Arugambay Tourism Development Master Plan 2020-2030, the process of dumping garbage at this site included covering up deposited waste with a layer of earth to prevent the odour. But due to a lack of machinery, this task had been omitted. The report states that the areas become a serious environmental concern during the rainy season. It proposes the setting up of a ‘no development’ buffer zone around the waste disposal site. The report further indicates that it is not clear whether the authorities had conducted any environmental assessment before the development of this dump and had obtained necessary approvals.

The open site where garbage is supposed to be dumped.

Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Through the dump: a truck’s daily route

“Plans underway to renovate the facility” – Pottuvil Divisional Secretary 

When asked about the status of the open dump yard facility, Pottuvil Divisional Secretary Nazeel Ahamed said that plans are underway to renovate the facility and set up elephant fences around it. “We are in the process of obtaining a grant from the World Bank for this purpose, and once it is passed and we receive the funds, we will immediately resolve this matter,” he added. 

“Garbage crisis will be resolved in 2-3 months” – Pottuvil PS Chairman 

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Pottuvil Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman S. M. M Musharraf echoed similar sentiments. He said that it had only been a month since he assumed office and that plans are underway to restore the open dump yard facilities. “We are in the process of allocating funds for this purpose in addition to setting up elephant fences. Previous regimes had failed to maintain this facility, which included an organic fertiliser plant and plastic waste collection centre. A few weeks ago, I hired a JCB vehicle and cleared the road leading up to the dump yard. The machine is now under repair, and I have sent a letter to the governor seeking approval to fix the machine. We have plans to restart the fertiliser plant and separate plastic waste, and once again, we need funds for this purpose. We have also held discussions with countries such as China and Hong Kong to initiate sister city projects,” he added. 
He further explained the challenges in working in their capacity as a Pradeshiya Sabha. “When considering the extent of Arugambay, it would have been ideal to upgrade the Pradeshiya Sabha to an urban or municipal council. For instance, we need a fire brigade to operate in the area, but since we are a PS, we are not eligible to have our own fire brigade. In case of an emergency, we have to wait for the fire brigade team from Akkaraipattu. We are handicapped with limited staff and limited garbage-collecting vehicles. Labourers work on a routine, and they are reluctant to complete the work beyond the allocated time. They are not being paid overtime, so they are reluctant to work. When I came to the office, I advised them to complete their tasks for the day. We need permanent staff, and it is essential to upgrade existing cadres to resolve this issue,” he said. 
According to Musharraf, around 2.5 - 3.5 tonnes of garbage is being collected from hotels on a daily basis. But then again the numbers vary. But he observes that the garbage crisis is a seasonal issue. “Over the past weekend around 2000 visitors came here for parties and one truck is needed for each hotel to collect their garbage. But we only have four vehicles and eight staff to collect garbage. These practical matters need to be rectified, but I can assure you that this garbage issue with regards to the open dump yard facility could be resolved in another two or three months,” he affirmed.