By Yumiko Perera
The Government is planning short-term and long-term measures to address the increase in the levels of freshwater pollution in Sri Lanka which was recently revealed in an audit report by the National Audit Office (NAO), The Sunday Morning learnt.
Some of these measures include the relocation of squatters and tighter regulation of errant industrial plants that contribute to the pollution of inland water bodies.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Environment Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe noted that relocating squatters by providing them with housing elsewhere is being considered as a long-term solution, which would further ensure that the level of pollutants and other waste material being released into the waters of the Kelani River would be minimised as much as possible.
He added that several projects to conserve freshwater sources across the country had commenced.
“The Ministry of Environment approved many projects worth nearly Rs. 100 million, covering several rivers across the country in the hope of conserving water sources. These projects were approved by a review panel and then given the green light.
“Conserving water sources in the country remains one of our top priorities, and several measures are underway in that regard,” Dr. Jasinghe noted.
He further elaborated that the Kelani River stretch from Hanwella to Peliyagoda was designated a “Special River Conservation Zone”, as it was identified as being more prone to pollution, given that there are a significant number of industrial factories and unauthorised settlements along those riverbanks.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Environmental Pollution Control Unit Director Dr. Sanjaya Rathnayaka said that several measures have been put in place to reduce the level of pollution and to address the declining quality of water in inland water bodies.
Stating that the CEA had identified several effluent disposal sites, along with areas where domestic waste is being thrown into the water streams, Dr. Rathnayake elaborated: “There have been many instances where the CEA had revoked licences of certain factories and industries that failed to abide by the set standards, and we have taken legal measures against them and managed to conduct pollution control through the legal framework. However, the other main issue we are facing is domestic waste and solid waste.”
An audit report by the NAO on the evaluation of the efficiency of wastewater management in the country revealed that the Western Province, with a population of nearly six million, generates nearly 1,200 million litres of wastewater a day. Additionally, it is estimated that a staggering 438,000 million litres of untreated wastewater in the Western Province alone is released into the ocean via the Wellawatta and Madampitiya pumping stations annually, The Sunday Morning learnt.
The report also highlighted that discharging untreated waste into the environment is a violation of the National Environmental Act and the Marine Pollution Act.
Increased freshwater pollution: Government planning short, long-term measures
11 Sep 2021
Increased freshwater pollution: Government planning short, long-term measures
11 Sep 2021
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