Stench from bird droppings:

CMC to trim trees abutting roads

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) which has expressed concern over the stench emanating from bird droppings in several streets in the city has decided to trim trees abutting the roads to prevent birds nestling in them.

According to a spokesman for the CMC's Road Cleaning Division, a stench emanates from bird droppings and carcases of crows and bats in the city.

A CMC worker said the odour emanates mostly during the night and people are reluctant to walk under trees even during the day on account of bird droppings.

CMC Commissioner Mrs. Badrani Jayawardane told the Sunday Observer that though the situation has worsened in the city, the Council has not decided to remove the bird nests from treetops or control the crows and bats nestling in them.

"However, we have also focused attention on introducing other precautionary measures to check the smell of bird droppings,".

Quoting media reports, Jayawardane said the Council has not taken a decision to remove the bird nests from trees around the Beira lake.

The lake area has over 150 trees which are a haven for crows and bats after dusk.

The area has also become a popular destination for those going for a stroll and foreigners.

The Beira Lake area, opposite the Gangaramaya temple is also a popular for newly-wed couples for photographs.

A new-wed couple who went to pose for photographs along with their maids recently was obliged to rush back to their hotel in the morning after their clothes were soiled by crows and bats in the vicinity.

However, Mrs. Jayawardane said a special team of CMC workers had been deployed to lop off branches of trees abutting the roads in the city to prevent birds nestling on them as it has also posed a threat to the beauty of the city.