Garbage troubles villages

Haltota Group Corr

The waste (garbage) management centre maintained by the Bandaragama Pradeshiya Sabha at Deldorawatta, Millaniya, has caused great inconvenience to residents in the surrounding villages.

The bad odour pervading the air is unbearable and the mounds of garbage has become a breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes, allege residents in the area.

Water in the surrounding wells have been contaminated by waste matter carried and dropped by crows and other birds. Residents say water from the garbage draining into nearby paddy fields hindered cultivations.

T Jayasena, 80, a retired Principal resident of Deldorawatta describing the problem, said they have faced fifficulties for the past several years. When they informed authorities about the problem in writing, two officials from the CEA and two PHIs visited the area for an inspection and they were appalled by the sorry situation.

Y Piyadasa said the problem would aggravate with the increase in population. They were asking for another one and a half acres from Milleniya Estate to dump garbage.

Premalatha Ranasinghe, a retired teacher, said they feel ashamed to entertain even a relative or friend in their home due to the nauseating smell pervading the area and flies invading their homes.

Bandaragama Pradesheeya Sabha chairman Manoj Sanjaya Hettige said their Pradesheeya Sabha was established in 1991. Until the waste management centre was established at Deldorawatta, garbage was thrown all over in the Milleniya area.

They have asked for a plot of land from the Horana Plantation Company to establish a compost manufacturing plant through garbage recycling.

The Western Province Waste Management Authority has planned to set up an electricity generation plant at Ingiriya and called for feasibility studies.

Once these two projects come, a lasting solution would be found to the garbage problem, he said.