The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has scheduled to hold a special discussion with all the relevant parties today (26) regarding the environmental problem that has arisen due to the dumping of garbage into the reservoirs of Maussakele and Castlereagh, and to find remedies for the same.

It was recently reported that the haphazard disposal of garbage in the surroundings of the Maussakele reservoir has caused serious environmental damage to the reservoir. The issue has arisen with the garbage that floats in getting filled in the reservoir when the water level increases due to heavy rains.

When contacted by The Daily Morning to inquire about the matter, CEA Nuwara Eliya District Head Ajith Amarasinghe said that the issue of garbage being dumped into the Maussakele and Castlereagh reservoirs had been there for a long time. “These areas are surrounded by estates. That is why garbage is being dumped on a large scale. We are currently in the process of identifying the relevant locations, and exploring possible remedies.”

He said that the relevant officials of the CEA, the Nuwara Eliya District and Divisional Secretaries, and a private company which had expressed their interest in engaging in a project to remove garbage in the reservoirs as a pilot project, are to have a special discussion on the matter today. “There are two important things that need to be done. One is removing garbage, and the other is putting up barricades so that garbage would not reach the reservoirs.”

Once the relevant locations are identified and barricades are put up there, Amarasinghe said that the relevant Local Government bodies would be entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring them. “There are two main reservoirs, namely, the Maussakele and Castlereagh. The discussion that will be held is to discuss the implementation of this project with regard to Castlereagh as a pilot project. With its progress, it will be expanded to the Maussakele reservoir too,” he added.