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Massive shramadana to clear Gregory’s Lake
The Gregory's Lake is one of the main attractions in Nuwara Eliya
Hundreds of plastic and glass bottles, used food canisters and loads of plastic bags were drawn out of the picturesque 140-year-old Gregory’s lake in Nuwara Eliya under a major shramadana campaign yesterday.
More than 350 volunteers including workers from the municipality, hoteliers, tourist guides, soldiers, members of the business community and members of the public participated in yesterday’s shramadana.
Former Mayor for Nuwara Eliya, Mahinda Dodampegama organised the campaign to clear the lake which is being drained (since Monday) for development of the fourth stage of the lake.
Those involved in the clearing operation said they found a large number of beer cans, empty liquor bottles and other waste thrown into the lake.
Though volunteers were able to clear the areas bordering of the lake, more bottles and plastic bags could be seen at the lake’s centre, to which they had no access.
Volunteers appealed to visitors to Nuwara Eliya to refrain from dumping empty bottles, polythene and other waste into the lake which is one of beauty spots and one of the main attractions of the city.
The Gregory’s Lake was constructed by the British in 1874.
People watch as the lake is drained
Volunteers clear the waste you and I carelessly dump
The lake is being drained under stage IV of a development project
The drained lake shows up the pollution
Polythene waste and bottles are carelessly thrown into the lake