Green Cities Programme launched

by Florence Wickramage

The Green Cities Concept, an initiative of Environment and Natural Resources Minister A.H.M. Fowzie was launched in Madampe, Chilaw recently by the Minister.

In launching this programme, the Environment Ministry will establish Green Cities islandwide filled with various types of trees, plants, running canals of pure water and a shanty free pure environment devoid of animals such as cattle and goats which pollute the city environment.

The programme was officially launched in Chilaw with the planting of trees in the city and distribution of compost barrels to families as an effort to prevent garbage being collected by the wayside. The Ministry has also planned a unified project with local authorities and the police in their respective areas to protect waterways from pollution and to establish proper drainage systems.

As a long term project the Green Cities programme envisages the participation of local bodies in preventing cattle and goats straying into city limits and the elimination of shanty dwellings. In the meantime, the tree planting programme will be intensified by identifying locations for new trees to be planted in areas coming under the purview of respective local bodies.