News
Nallur council trashes residents’ concerns, pushes ahead with Ariyalai garbage site
View(s):By S. Rubathesan
Despite protests by residents of Ariyalai, Jaffna, against the setting up of a solid waste plant, the local government body, Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha, continues to dump garbage on the proposed site, residents allege.
Located in the suburbs of Jaffna along the A9 road, the village is a fertile land with hundreds of acres of paddy and a protected environmental site where mangrove patches can be seen across the villages. Seasonal migratory birds also pass the location annually. The region is well known among local birdwatchers.
Protests by residents of Ariyalai, Jaffna
On October 8, villagers, youths and civil society representatives collectively staged a protest against what they called an attempt to make their village “another dumping ground”.
On Friday, Northern Province Governor N. Vedhanayahan visited the site with local council officials following petitions to his office by residents.
Meanwhile, Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman T. Mayooran said in a statement that the site which is under construction was selected in 2021 during the previous government since that was the only available property for the waste management initiative.
The local body also stressed that the purpose of the site is segregation and collection of garbage only. At least 17 people from nearby villages are also employed at the site.
The name board of the site was also changed recently into “Organic Fertiliser Production Centre” from the previous “Waste Management Centre” following the protest, local residents said.
Mathiyazahan Mayooran, a local youth from Ariyalai East, alleged that even after their October 8 protest against the plant and handing over petitions to government authorities, several garbage trucks were directed to the site.
“We have been protesting since the inception, even during the global covid pandemic period, against attempts to dump garbage in our villages. Despite our protests and concerns, local authorities are determined to go ahead with the project,” he said.
Local youths tried to prevent the garbage trucks from entering the area, but later police intervened. Eight were arrested and later released on bail over the incidents.
Police are to file legal action against another three, including civil society activist K. Aingkaran, over the protest.
“Even though it is a civil protest organically initiated by the villagers, police decided to file action against us. However, the Pradeshiya Sabha failed to hold multi-stakeholder meetings with villagers before deciding on the proposed site. Villagers feel they were left out of the decision-making process, and now their village is on the verge of becoming another garbage dump,” Mr Aingkaran told the Sunday Times.
Weak waste management at another garbage dump run by Nallur Pardeshiya Sabha in Karaikaal, Inuvil, is also another reason why locals are sceptical about the proposed site.
“It is the responsibility of the representatives elected by the people to inform us and make collective decisions on issues like this. Unfortunately, the local body failed in this process,” he said.
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