From fire to garbage dump

More than eighty families which lost their homes in the massive fire at Mahawatte, Madampitiya in Mattakkuliya on December 20 last year are still living in tents in a playground adjoining the massive garbage disposal area, although almost nine months have passed since the incident.

One victim, Subasinghe Nissanka, an employee of the Colombo Municipal Council for 26 years said: “The Red Cross and Samata Sarana Organization supplied us with tents and food when our houses were burnt down. We didn’t get Government assistance. We were housed at St. Anthony’s College, Mattakkuliya for some time and are now living in the playground.”

Mr, Subasinghe is a father of two young men, both employed.

“Many teenagers are addicted to drugs and alcohol. My wife and I protect our sons from the drug abusers and alcoholics. One son passed his university entrance exam, but he decided to earn a living after seeing the suffering we are undergoing,” he said.

According to him the youngsters who used this playground are furious with some of them threatening the unfortunate victims to leave the area.

Divya (36) is a mother of six and expecting her seventh baby.

“Many children here are suffering from fever and have rashes, because the garbage dump is in close proximity. When it rains the rain water flows down from the garbage and gets stagnated, while this place is full of mosquitoes at night”, she said.

She said drug addicts and alcoholics use the few empty tents in the night and added the people live in fear of robbers.

“We were robbed once. The robbers do not bother about our poverty, they take whatever is in the house,” she said.

Marzoona (65) and Nazeera (45), mother and daughter, both widows, live in one tent. They make hoppers in the morning and paper bags during the day to earn a living.

“Many women here do some job, most of them being paid for daily services. Some work in tea stores, some wash clothes and some work in garment factories. But many who go out for work fear their tents would be robbed while they are away,” said Nazeera.

Premawathie (44), a mother of seven said: “My son suffered from pneumonia four times. Many children here fight a great battle to survive after suffering from numerous illnesses.”

No health officers seem to be interested in coming here, where most of the population are under age children. Most children suffer from rashes. The people cannot use the public toilets built by the CMC, as they are overflowing. The people carry buckets of water and walk into the garbage disposal areas and relieve themselves there.

Even though there are a few plastic water tanks around the camps, these tanks have never been refilled after they were first installed.

In response Colombo Municipal Council Deputy Commissioner S.P.S.Senadheera said it was difficult for the Municipal authorities to provide a permanent solution for the victims by building houses for them.

“There was a proposal to build an apartment but this is a task we can achieve only with the help of the Government, especially the Urban Development Authority and the Disaster Management Ministry which should be involved in building houses for the people. We only gave a playground belonging to the Municipal Council as a temporary solution,” he said.

Urban Development and Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the present CMC administration had not responded to the proposals made by his Ministry.

“The Ministry worked out an assistance programme, with a micro credit for rebuilding houses provided by a community bank but neither the present mayor nor the present CMC administration have responded or had a discussion on this issue” he said.

The minister also said that as soon as the new CMC administration responds his Ministry would be willing to embark on the project.