Lanka: CEA to establish compost plants

Colombo: The Central Environment Authority (CEA) will construct compost plants at Kolonnawa, Kalutara, Kandy and Negombo under the “Pilisaru” National Solid Waste Management Programme.

Steps will be taken to construct compost plants and land fills at Mahawatta, Mirigama, Maligawatta, Dompe, Nuweragampalatha Pradeshiya Sabha of Anuradhapura Urban Council, Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Gondigawatta, Kandy, Hikkaduwa and Galle, said Central Environment Authority (CEA) Chairman Udaya Gammanpila.

He was addressing a press conference at the Central Environment Authority to discuss the progess of the Pilisau Solid Waste Management Programme.

Gammanpila said engineering designs and estimates have been prepared by the Authority for the projects designed and funds have been released.

He said an Agreement on the construction of a compostion plant at Kolonnawa is to be signed between the CEA and the Kolonnawa Urban Council shortly . An MoU had been finalised to construct a Compost Plant at Pohorawatta, Kalutara, he noted.

“The Authority is planning to put up a compost plant at the Kochchikade dump yard,” he added.

”We have asked the Land Reform Commission to release lands to develop composting and landfills at compost plants and landfill sites at Kondigawatta , Kandy,” he said. Speaking on the Pilisaru project’s progress , CEA Director General Pasan Gunasena said the evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment was in progress for composting plants and landfills to be set up in Dompe with the help of the Korean government.

The District Development Committee has agreed in principal to release 29 acres to develop a Compost facility at Hikkaduwa, he pointed out. The Central Environment Authority has identified sites to develop landfills at Malamulla, Panadura.

The Korean Government through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has agreed to provide technical know-how and financial assistance to develop a sanitary landfill at Pelpola, Waga, to be used by the Seethawaka and Homagama Pradeshiya Sabhas and Seethakapura, Maharagama Urban Councils, he explained.

The Authority has released funds to 29 local authorities to develop Compost plants and to improve recycling facilities. They are Bingiriya PS, Balangoda UC, Mawanella PS, Rabukkana PS, Yatiyantota PS, Angunakolapelessa PS, Habaraduuwa PS, Kirinda Puhulwella PS, Kotapola PS, Nagoda PS, Rajgama PS, Weligama UC, Yakkalamulla PS, Bandarawela UC, Ella PS, Agalawatta PS, Bulathsinghala PS, Pannala PS, Attanagalla PS, Boralessgamuwa UC, Puttalama UC, Horana PS, Wattala Mabole-UC, Kaduwela PS, Gampaha MC, Pitabeddara PS, Kegalla UC, Bandaragama PS and Wallallawita PS. “Of the total allocation of Rs. 100,348,209.69 for these 29 projects , Rs. 29,498,054.47, has been released to local authorities,” he said.