Environment Ministry responds to Daily News 'People Voices'

COLOMBO: The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry referring to our 'People's voices: To whom it may concern' column said the Ministry has looked into all issues referred to it in the column.

The Ministry referring to an issue by L.de Silva of Colombo published on May 8, said the CEA conducts educational and awareness programmes on solid waste management to various stakeholders including the local authorities to improve the existing situation.

The Ministry referring to an issue by Roshantha Fernando from Nawala, published on May 8 said the Ministry does not need to take any action as the matter should be looked into by the authorities mentioned in the article.

To an issue on May 8 by Roshan Mohamed from Moratuwa, the Ministry said the matter has been referred to the Moratuwa Municipal Council (MMC) since the management of solid waste comes within the MMC's purview and it is the Council's responsibility to provide an environment friendly suitable solution to resolve the problem.

To an issue on May 11 by Neville Perera from Mount Lavinia, the Ministry said this matter has been referred to the Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council.

To an issue on May 9 by Infiyaz Mohamed Ali of Kalubowila, the Ministry said it has referred this matter to the Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council's and the Colombo South Hospital Director. Meanwhile, given here are the number of complaints the Daily News People's Voices Column has received since this column was started.

Moratuwa Urban Council - 2

Colombo Mayor - 6

Colombo Municipal Council - 5

Highways Minister - 4

Land Minister - 2

Power Minister - 1

Sri Jayawardenapura

Urban Council - 1

Water Supply Minister - 1

Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha - 1

NWS and DB - 1

Maharagama PS - 1

Posts Minister - 1

Health Minister - 1

Dehiwela - Mount Lavinia

Municipal Council - 2

Kolonnawa Urban Council - 1

Transport Minister - 3

Traffic Police - 1

Road Development Authority - 1

Kandy Municipal Council - 1

Wattala-Hendala PS - 1

Telecommunication Minister -2

Consumer Affairs Authority - 1

Housing Authority Chairman - 1

Kandy Municipal Council - 1

Social Services Minister - 1

Moratuwa Police - 1

Labour Minister - 1

Kelaniya PS - 1

Authorities have you taken any action? Have you found solutions to these issues?

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People's Voices to whom it may concern

Over to you Mayor Kandy MC

The vetinary surgeon attached to the Kandy Municipal Council should take immediate precautions to see that rabid dogs don't roam in the city of Kandy.

The ancient Hill Capital admired by many all over the world has become the most polluted city in Sri Lanka. The authorities attached to the Kandy Municipality have to take full responsibility, as their sole motive is to only collect revenue and not render any services to the ratepayers?

I remember in the good old days we had a lady who was the Commissioner who use to walk very gracefully along the streets, by-roads every morning, before she reported for duty.

She had a on the spot assess and knew exactly what happened in every nook and corner of Kandy city.

Gone are the days where we had honest and dedicated people of her calibre. She was a good loving citizen who was dedicated to her profession and overall a very good human-being?

The stray dogs are freely seen loitering at these particular places such as along the Katugastota bridge, opposite the Old Laksala, Central Market, Channelling centre along the Peradeniya Road, Nihals Supermarket and the Kalutara-Kade along the George E. de Silva Mawatha, opposite Riverdale Hotel, Bahirawakanda roundabout, along Mahaiyawa cemetery, near the Lewella Bridge, Louis Peiris Mawatha, round the Kandy Lake and near the General Hospital. The dog lovers should take care before they make any protest? This problem has to be

eradicated before it goes out of control. There have been several stray-dogs who have bitten people who go for their morning walk, and the other victims have been the schoolchildren who walk along the road early morning?

LI KUANG SHU, Kandy

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Over to you Chairman RDA

This picture shows the status of the roads at Jayanthipura, Battaramulla. Starting with Right Circular Road and other connecting roads are in a dilapidated state.

Repairs have never been done for many years and with the heavy rains setting in, the roads are impassable sometimes.

Residents of Jayanthipura

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Over to you Moratuwa Police

As a resident of Koralawella, we are greatly inconvenienced and immensely disturbed by a 'sami' or so called holy man squatting by the railway station who has installed a loudspeaker and has chosen to blast away in the early hours of the morning, every day at around 4.30 am and again at around 5.30 p.m.

The sounds are at such high decibel levels, in contravention of sound pollution laws, that disturbs sleep and renders rest impossible.

Especially during the monsoon season the sound is carried for many kilometres downwind.

This is a public nuisance contravening nuisance laws and having no respect for the comfort and well-being of others, be they normal or sick people. May I request the authorities to stop this nuisance and restore peace and quiet to the community.

D. M. BALASURIYA, Moratuwa

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Over to you Mayors

When I read these letters one after another, they all complain mostly about keeping the cities clean. Most of our big Municipalities, Colombo, Dehiwela, Kandy have failed to provide this basic facilities for their citizens.

What do they do with the money they collect from the residents? If you check the payroll, there may be hundreds of workers who are supposed to keep the cities clean.

What do they do? They will be sitting on one of the culverts and will be talking or some will be doing private work earning two salaries.

What I have heard is that the supervisors get a percentage of the earnings from the workers when he turns a blind eye.

Just a suggestion - Why not charge the supervisor if the roads under his purview is not clean. Show one or two supervisors the door and the others will fall in line. But will the municipalities do it. No. Because - the Mayor is busy thinking how to buy a new house/car.

Deputy Mayor - dreaming how he/she can become the Mayor and how to get better cars etc. when he is there.

Commissioner - How to protect his position with all the politics.

Members - How to get some santhosam from a rate paying resident by doing something that the Municipality is there to do. In other countries you have to bribe the people to do the wrong thing, in Sri Lanka you have to bribe them to do the correct thing and the unions - they are there to fight for the rights but they are not there for the responsibilities.

M. SILVA