The Engineering Faculty of the University of Peradeniya together with the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore has submitted a proposal to mitigate pollution which is affecting the Kandy Lake.
The Kandy lake is probably the oldest man-made body of water in the country and perhaps in Asia. The lake itself was constructed by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe –who despite being described as a tyrant- had an aesthetic sense.
However hotels situated in and around the vicinity of the lake have created a major environmental problem by dumping their waste into the lake. Today there is a very real threat of this scenic stretch of water being turned into another ‘Beira Lake’. In an effort to avert such a catastrophe the late General Anuruddha Ratwatta entrusted the maintenance of the Kandy Lake to the Irrigation Department. A committee headed by the Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa advises the department regarding maintenance of the lake.
Over the years the department -with limited resources at its disposal has managed with difficulty to prevent the pollution of lake.
The proposal of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Peradeniya in collaboration with the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore is an attempt to provide a long-term solution to this problem.The proposal envisages the setting up of floating wetlands composed of Canna Iridiflors (cannas) held together with coconut fibre as a means of absorbing pollutants entering the lake.
There is some disagreement regarding the creation of the artificial wetlands with some stating, wetlands if introduced, should be created on the edges and not in the middle or centre of the lake as it would mar its beauty. |
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