Garbage dumping sites in forest reserves reduced from 53 to nine through legal action – Amaraweera

By Ifham Nizam

The Environment Ministry says it has been able to reduce garbage dumping in forest reserves by taking legal action against the polluters.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed officials, particularly in the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to put an end to dumping of garbage in forest reserves before the end of this year.

Areas associated with wildlife sanctuaries are used by some local government bodies, as well as by some individuals, to dispose of garbage, a senior official said.

Due to shortage of fodder, wild elephants in particular consume garbage and many die annually, as a result, Environment Ministry investigations have revealed.

Amaraweera said that when the present government came into power, it had identified 53 such landfill sites in the forest reserves and it had reduced that number to nine.

The Minister has been pressing his officers regarding the disposal of garbage in the forest reserves and it has been revealed that the local bodies are now using alternative sites to dispose of their garbage.

The Minister said there were many reports on wild elephants marauding villages.

“These animals come in search of food and are attracted to garbage. This is one of the reasons why the wild jumbo attacks are on the increase.”