Meethotamulla garbage issue:

Committee to review proposals

A committee comprising secretaries to three ministries and the Secretary to the Western Provincial Council is reviewing the proposals to provide a viable solution to the garbage dumping site at Methotamulla which has become a bone of contention to the people in the area, Secretary to the Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Kamal Pathmasiri told the Sunday Observer.

He said the committee comprises Secretaries to the Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry, Megapolis and Western Region Development Ministry and the Western Provincial Council.

"The committee has already received over 50 proposals for the Meethotamulla dumping site and will evaluate the proposals after appointing a Technical Evaluation Committee", he added.

He said the former proposal to the Urban Development Authority to shift the garbage in Meethotamulla by rail will also be considered as a solution to the problem. However, he said what want is a viable solution to the problem.

Meanwhile Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha during a visit to the site last week said transporting garbage from one place to another is not a solution.He also urged not to use the Kolonnawa garbage issue to gain political mileage.

"Do not make the garbage issue a political platform. We should unite to find a solution to the problem," he said.