Court extends ban on dumping garbage in Muthurajawela
The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the order prohibiting the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) from disposing garbage at Muthurajawela till July 25.
A petition was filed by several residents in the area seeking a court order against the disposal of garbage collected from the city of Colombo at the Muthurajawela site.
The petition states that waste is being disposed in Muthurajawela despite the area being named an Environmental Conservation Zone, and that this has resulted in several environmental and health issues surfacing.
On July 05, the court had issued an injunction order prohibiting the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) from disposing garbage in Muthurajawela till today (July 20).
Source – 20/07/2017, Ada Derana, see more at – http://www.adaderana.lk/news/42058/court-extends-ban-on-dumping-garbage-in-muthurajawela
Sand mining a major problem
Illegal sand mining has become major problem in the Northern Province. A shortage of sand is prevailing in the North as several construction projects are in progress. Due to this, the price of sand has shot up.
One tipper of sand which was purchased at Rs 17,000 during the pre-2009 period, now costs Rs 40,000, affected people said.
Sand is being continuously mined in Thoththavadi, Illupaikadavai, Koorai, Madu, Palampidy, Aruvaiyaaru and Kallaru in Mannar.
The additional District Secretary of Mannar said that the Department of Geology in Anuradhapura has issued permits to mine sand in these areas.
However, people have faced several problems when mining for commercial purposes in breach of conditions laid down in the permits.
Meanwhile, although no permits have been issued for sand mining on the Jaffna-Thenmarachchi- Kachchai beach, large scale sand mining is conducted during the night hours.
People have further expressed their concerns over sand mining to a depth lower than the Mean Sea Level, as the villages close by are facing a risk of sea erosion. It has been pointed out that the Government should intervene. (MT)
(MT)
Source – 19/07/2017, Ceylon Today, See more at – http://www.ceylontoday.lk/article20170401CT20170930.php?id=5727
Curse called polythene
Responding to the Cabinet’s approval of banning the production, sale and use of lunch-sheets, polythene and Styrofoam/Rigifoam, the Colombo Municipality (CMC) yesterday said the move would reduce at least one third of the waste collected in the city.
The CMC Waste Management Director Ms. Yogarani Sylvester speaking to the Daily Mirror said the ban would be the only solution to tackle the non-recyclable waste collected within the city.
“Lunch sheets are not things that we can recycle nor are they degradable. Most of these lunch sheets and Styrofoam/ boxes in which lunch is sold are soiled so they can’t be reused. This is a major problem as we can’t do anything with them,” she said.
While the move does not mean the garbage problem in the city would be completely resolved it would have a significant impact on the garbage in the city. “People will start to reuse what they have, which is a significant decrease in the amount of garbage that is collected as we come back with at least 20 polythene bags when we go to the super market when we can just use two,” Ms. Sylvester stated.
The proposal by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) will see the ban of lunch sheets, polythene and Styrofoam banned from September with authorities expected to introduce and promote degradable polythene and bags to the public.
The media also reported that the import and production of lunch sheets, containers, plates, cups and spoons made of polythene and the sale of cooked meals in polythene containers and the burning of plastic in open areas will be prohibited.
Authorities will also take measures to introduce and provide paper, cloth, reed bags or bio-degradable plastic.
Source – 17/07/2017, Daily Mirror, see more at – http://www.dailymirror.lk/plus/article/Curse-called-polythene-132957.html
