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| Sunday, 30 November 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Crow Island beach : ......more a garbage dump than a place of recreation by Rehana Amidon Mention the word 'beach' and the image that springs to mind is warm sunshine, stretches of golden sand, salty breeze and frothy waves, with perhaps a palm tree or two swaying in the wind...But reality at the Crow Island beach is a disappointing eyesore that literally brings you down to earth with a jarring thud. More a garbage dump than a place of recreation, the beach is littered with empty bottles, broken glass, discarded syringes, plastic containers, seaweed, paper, rusted cans, dead fish, wood, coconut, clothes, gunny bags, oil waste and all else that should be dumped on landfills. Would you call this picture scenic beauty? Think not. Wilful pollution and utter disregard for the environment has eroded the beauty of our beach much more than the process of erosion that is also man induced. We leave behind one trash with no thought to who should or would clean up after us, we throw garbage into the sea or to the canal and then there are oil wastes, and vessels that empty their oil refuse into the sea, all these cause major health and environmental hazards transforming the once pristine beach into a veritable hunting grounds for stray dogs and cats, and breeding places for mosquitoes. Located in a highly residential area of Mattakuliya, the beach is a big draw among the residents and the visiting public looking for some fresh air and seaside recreation. Given the vast open space parallel to the beach, the natural vegetation and the new bridge across the Kelani River, this site also has massive potential for development. But alas, what emerges as prominent is the litter filled spectre indicating high pollution and environmental abuse. This destruction of mother nature appears in many parts of Crow Island as well as in the residential area. The southern part of the beach is littered with garbage and offshore oil residue turning the water more oily than salty. This kills thousands of marine creatures and birds every year. Eye sores such as ship wrecks, an abandon bus, a temporary police post hog the scene on the northern part of the beach, making one wonder whether one has stumbled on to a war zone. All this is capped with endless mounds of garbage that float from the Kelani River and disperse throughout the beach. Oil waste continues to play a major role in pollution, turning the once golden sand into a murky shade of black. Sea erosion Ongoing sea erosion is another major problem wrecking havoc at Crow Island. Frequent storms, high waves, and current impacts have cause a rise in sea levels. Another issue of growing concern is encroachment by squatters, who have taken over much of the available recreation space. The beach has also acquired a notorious deputation as a place for murder (the famous Rita Jones murder), illegal activities, drug addicts have found the deep mangrove forests to be a safe and isolated place to carry on with their activities without being disturbed. The lack of safety measures or facilities, worries many visitors, though many have given up visiting the beach. Crow Island locals annoyed by the beach mess once attempted to clean the beach, but gave up when they discovered how helpless they were in tackling the unending mess. Shaffath Farook, a resident for over 23 years said that the love he had for the place was fading. "Crow Island has lost her glory and the human touch", he said explaining that before the problem of pollution got out of hand, the "people had been united, co-operative, helpful and very concerned about their surroundings. But now they don't respect this property", he lamented. Another resident M.H.M. Yakooth, who had also been living here for more than 25 years, was disgusted at what place had turned into and called for some form of development around the beach area. "Whoever is responsible should tightened the security even during day time. The authorities should also install some basic facilities along with a awareness program for outsiders who come to enjoy this beach". The tranquillity of the beach area is further marred by the NAVY which occupy 80 perches of land in the northern part of the beach ostensibly to safeguard the Sri Lanka ports against any outside attacks. They have promised to leave the area once the safety of the SLPA is secured. But not many are convinced of that. And the problem is further compounded by the fact that there is only a single access to the beach, which causes major traffic congestion especially during weekends. Pollution Even the residential area is affected. The canal, situated under the main bridge to the residential area, used only to control the rain water from overflowing has become a garbage dump for residents outside of Crow Island. Many have also connected their sewers to the canal causing a terrible stench in the area and creating a breeding place for mosquitoes and other disease carrying organs. Despite the pollution, the erosion and the mess that is Crow Island beach, which at surprisingly 29 acres in extent and twice the size of Galleface, attracts more than 1,000 visitors every weekend. Many come to watch the sunset that turns the sky into a wondrous shades of orange and pink, and others come for the panoramic view that stretches the harbour to the Kelani River. Many also come to view the endemic plants and species, for sports and nature. And of course children of all ages come and play in the polluted beach. The pollution problem needs to be tackled and tackled fast if the beach is to be restored to its natural beauty. The Urban Development Authority (UDA) through the ADB funded Coastal Resources Management Project (CRMP) under the Fisheries Ministry, are reclaiming the sea as a means to mitigate sea erosion. The project will begin in middle 2004. In order to preserve the beach, CRMP has approved the widening of the beach upto 100 meters by pumping sand from offshore with export quality sand. They have also recommended shielding the shoreline with seawall, revetments, offshore break water, and jetties to prevent the sea from encroaching into land. The Urban Development Authority has agreed to develop this area after former mayor Karu Jayasuriya ordered the clearing up of the whole land subsequent to the Rita Jones murder. A landscape design proposed by the UDA called the Crow Island Beach Park Plan was drawn up to enhance the quality of coastal environment. The beach park will have an open grass area, police administration information, parking lot on the main entrance, food stalls, board walk, informal play area, restaurant and bar in several places. It will also have an amusement park, open air disco, pier for boat trips to the Kelani Vihara along the Kelani River and a mini mangrove forest to enrich the coastal zones. The UDA have taken steps to involve and encourage some of the stakeholders such as Coast Conservational Department (CCD), Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Sri Lanka Reclamation and Development Cooperation (SLLR and DC), Marine Pollution Prevention Authority. Police Department, NAVY, NARA, National Housing Development Authority (NHDA), and several NGOs to formulate and implement the project which is estimated to cost approximately Rs. 120 million. The UDA is also focusing on a proposal to initiate a lottery as the North Western Economic Commission did for the Chilaw beach and focus on Western Region Economic Development Commission (BOI). The development plan bodes well for this litter scattered beach and is guaranteed to attract more visitors, beautify the neighbourhood, also give back its natural beauty to the Crow Island beach. But question still remains as to when the project will be complemented, if at all it will, and to what extent it will solve the problem of litter and pollution if these issues have not been addressed in the draft plans. 500-metre sea wall to tackle erosion by Elmo Leonard Crow Island, one of the few underdeveloped locations in Colombo, reeling under sea erosion, is to have a 500 metre sea wall built under Asian Development Bank (ADB) aid, amounting to Rs. 20 million. Work is expected to begin early next year, in collaboration with Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). Urban Development Authority (UDA) has drawn up the plans, initiated by the Coast Conservation Department (CCD) which overlooks coastal conservation. Around 150 squatter-families have been evacuated and 30 more are yet to leave the area, which will be turned into a beach park, and handed over to CMC, to prevent squatters returning, CCD, director Dr. R. A. D. B. Samaranayake said. CCD, who hitherto engaged in coast protection work, has now, diversified into coastal development as a means of stalling sea erosion, rampant in the north-western and southern coasts where population is concentrated. Plans are also being drawn up to build a 200 metre beach wall adjacent to the Chilaw town. A four-kilometre beach conservation project, aimed at stalling sea erosion in Weligama, 85 miles south of Colombo is off the ground. In Denuwela, where sea erosion is high, a rivertment of boulders, 150 meter long is under construction, together with a breakwater and groyne, of 60 metres, each. This area will also be used as a fishing vessel anchorage. |
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