No more illegal filling of Muturajawela?

By Ifham Nizam

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday ordered the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to immediately halt the entry of trucks carrying garbage into the Muthurajawela Sanctuary. Amaraweera took this decision after an observation visit there.

It is revealed that these trucks dump garbage in unauthorized landfills in the Muthurajawela wetlands. Old concrete blocks, tyres, demolition materials and other debris are used for these unauthorized landfills, a ministry official said.

Earlier this month, Amaraweera met the drivers of the garbage trucks who told the Minister that they have been dumping garbage into Muthurajawela for several years.

At a meeting held yesterday regarding issues, secretary of the Environment Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe said an order needs to be issued to stop the trucks carrying garbage, enter into Muthurajawela.

Accordingly, the Minister directed the CEA to take immediate action against vehicles who enter Muthurajawela Wet Zone with garbage.

Amaraweera said certain government officials are behind the illegal landfills and vowed that they will be punished. The Minister said he had identified three projects that were harmful to the environment and that action should be taken to ban those three projects.

Minister Amaraweera also instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the demarcation of the Muthurajawela Sanctuary. He added that 90 per cent of the constructions around the Bolgoda Lake in Moratuwa do not have CEA approval.

Amaraweera also inspected the unauthorised constructions around the Bolgoda Lake and water pollution in the area. The National Environmental Act needs to be amended to prevent pollution, he said.

Accordingly, draft amendments to the National Environmental Act had already been submitted to the Attorney General for his observations, the Minister said.