Colombo Municipal Council will implement a six months programme to clear the streets of Colombo of garbage.

Under this programme two roads in Kirilaponne Ward has been selected as a pilot project and will be declared as ‘No litter Zones’. Residents living along these roads will be initially educated on proper garbage disposal procedures preclude (before) implementing spot fines on litter bugs said Hewahetage Sumathipala Special Commissioner of the CMC who incidentally works without a salary to Sunday Island on Friday (13).

Garbage disposal monitoring wardens similar to traffic wardens will be deployed in the city.

This step is a part of the wider programme which will be gradually spread to encompass the entire city. The exercise will be complemented by way of amendments to the CMC by Laws whenever it is required, he emphasized.

Unlike the present collection system, garbage collections will be subject to specific days. Dumping on the roads and payments will be prohibited. Public are required to dispose their garbage when the collection vehicle arrives. On lieu, specific points for garbage collection will be designated in roads and streets in the city, he explained.

He said that garbage collection amounts to 70 mt a day and the CMC expends Rs.48 mn to dispose garbage.

President Mahinda Rajapakse has directed that steps should be taken within a month to sort out disposal of garbage.

Recycling of garbage is on cards but due to the reason of CMC lacking expertise to recycle garbage, foreign assistance is sought he revealed.

Another point which focus has been directed is the cities lighting system. (Road lamps)

He said that the CMC is spending a colossal amount on those who are employed to switch on / off street lights. However the street lights continue to burn in day light wasting taxpayer money.

Agitated by the callous indifference to their work by street lighting men, groups of volunteers have expressed their willingness to be entrusted with the task in their respective streets and roads.

The CMC will employee these volunteers initially in Kirilapone Ward, the Special Commissioner said.