Aruwakkalu to solve Colombo garbage problem

• CEA approval by the end of November
• Aruwakkalu site can be completed in 10 months

 A solution to Colombo’s waste management issue may be on the horizon, with the Aruwakkalu site receiving Cabinet approval and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) tipped to authorise it by the end of the month.  

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka, addressing a press briefing at the ministry yesterday, asserted that the Aruwakkalu sanitary waste management project would be initiated as soon as the CEA gave the go-ahead.

“The CEA has carried out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report which approved the Aruwakkala site. Now the CEA has to give its final authorisation so that the project can be initiated,”

Refuting media reports that claimed mismanagement of resources at the ministry had caused a delay in the project’s commencement, the Minister said that his ministry was given the responsibility over the garbage problem only on 4 April 2017, when he submitted a proposal to the Cabinet. 

“We were tasked with resolving this matter in April and by 9 July we were able to call for tenders,” he said, adding that seven international companies had already made bids. 

The Minister then noted that in just 10 months after the contract is handed over to the selected bidder, the Aruwakkala site would be ready for use. 

“If we do not resolve this issue soon, more incidents similar to or worse than the Meethotamulla disaster can occur,” the Minister said.

The Minister elaborated that awareness programs were carried out with various parties including Christian, Muslim and Buddhist clergy as well as public officials and provincial and local government officials. 

In addition, Minister Ranawaka said that a waste-to-energy project to generate energy from solid waste was also in the pipeline.

Megapolis Ministry Project Director - Solid Waste Management Project, Jayavilal Fernando, told the Daily FT that Aruwakkalu would be the final disposal site for residual waste that is collected from Colombo and its suburbs as well as from the local authorities of the Puttalam District.

“The Aruwakkalu site, which is 85 acres, will be constructed under two phases and will have a space of 5,000 m3 for waste disposal,”

Fernando elaborated that Colombo’s waste would first be taken by truck to a transfer station in Kelaniya where it will be compressed in compactors to significantly reduce the volume of the solid waste.

“After it has been compressed, the waste will then be loaded into containers which will be sealed and loaded into train compartments to be transported to the Aruwakkalu site,”

Regarding the Kelaniya transfer station, Fernando emphasised that authorities would take special care to ensure that odours coming from the station would be minimised.

“All waste water excreted from compressing the solid waste will be treated to the levels stipulated by the Central Environmental Authority,” Fernando said. 

Meanwhile, Acting Director EIA of the CEA, K.G.S. Jayawardana said that members of the CEA Board needed to approve the final report compiled with the EIA data and proposals from the public.

“We are currently compiling the final report with the EIA data and suggestions submitted by the public which will then be handed over to the Board for final approval,” he said, assuring that approval for the project from the CEA would be given before the end of this month. (SG)