Reducing Environmental Pollution in Sri Lanka

[mrpanini]

Originally Posted by mrpanini

Only 4000 of the 185,000 were cars. This means that the majority of these vehicles are motorbikes, 3 wheelers, lorries and buses with little or no pollution controls on them and thus are spewing more noxious diesel smoke into the already polluted air.

If there were mandated pollution controls on these recently imported vehicles and strict emissions standards for these vehicles to European or U.S. emissions standards, then this would not be such a problem.

But the sad and completely avoidable fact is that most of these 185,000 vehicles will be belching toxic suffocating thick black diesel fumes into the air causing health problems in people that will be far far more expensive to treat than the cost of a emissions control system on a vehicle.

[mrpanini]

Sept 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka Reptile and Amphibian Foundation points out that a number of endemic species to the country have become extinct in recent past.

Of 109 reptiles and amphibians, 21 species are extinct, says the Chairman of Sri Lanka Reptile and Amphibian Foundation Mendis Wickramasinghe.

While 12 amphibians are threatened of extinction, another 34 amphibians are severely threatened, the Foundation points out.

Mr. Mendis also said that the research conducted by the Foundation in Sri Pada mountain area under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment led to rediscover two amphibian species that were earlier believed to be extinct.

He cited deforestation, isolation of jungles, development, erosion, and climate change have caused the extinction of amphibians causing severe ecological imbalance.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_1...85768928KA.php

[mrpanini]

Nov 06, Colombo:

Sri Lanka's Western Provincial Council (WPC) is to implement a ban on polythene decorations within the next three months to minimize environmental pollution. According to Gammanpila, all kinds of polythene decorations will be banned under this legislation, including polythene decorations used for funeral ceremonies and election campaigns. Environment Minister of the Western Provincial Council, Udaya Gammanpila has told the local media that the WPC was waiting for observations of parliament to implement the ban on polythene.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_1...89053034JR.php



Discarded plastic bags clog up drains and contribute to heavy floods in Sri Lankan cities. Scientists estimate a polythene bag takes at least 500 years to decompose. Officials say about 50 percent of the country’s polythene is consumed in the western province.


A 'ban' of certain types of polythene went into effect in 2007, hower it was an impotent ban because it did not ban all polythene

Using polythene has become very popular in Sri Lanka during the past two decades and the 'magical' wrapper replaced the traditional eco-friendly wrappers fast. However, the 'God sent carrier' soon became a menace damaging the environment and causing lots of environmental problems.
The main culprit for clogged drains during the rainy season is still polythene. New laws have been brought in from January 1 2007 mainly to ban the use of polythene products below 20 microns. Under these regulations bags, lunch sheets and other polythene wrappers and bags below 20 microns will be illegal to use.
http://www.southasiabiz.com/2007/01/...ckshaws_a.html



A total ban is impractical until suitable environmentally friendly substitutes are found. Several American companies such as BioBag have developed environmentally friendly biodegradable compostable plastic products that contain no polythene:

BioBag is the world’s largest brand of 100% biodegradable and certified compostable bags and films made from the material, Mater-Bi. All of our products contain GMO free starch, biodegradable polymer and other renewable resources. No polyethylene is used in the production process. BioBag products meet ASTM D6400 specifications and California Law requirements. We will never compromise our earth or our standards.
http://www.biobagusa.com/



Another option is for people to have a burlap, gunny or cloth bag and to simply reuse this bag. This is how it used to be done before plastics.
In America and Europe this has become common practice in order to preserve the environment. A person will bring their own cloth bag to a shop or grocery store and use their bag to transport their purchases instead of the shop plastic bags.

[mrpanini]

Hybrid and Electric Vehicles tax free in 2011 !!

President Rajapaksa delivering the 2011 Budget speech proposed the removal of tax imposed on electric and hybrid vehicles .

“I propose to reduce duties and taxes on passenger transportation vehicles by 25 per cent. I propose to exempt the importation of electric and hybrid vehicles from Excise Tax and VAT in order to promote environmental friendly tourism." said President Rajapakse during the 2011 Budget speech.


[IMG]http://oi54.************/a0vryw.jpg[/IMG]
The Toyota Prius is a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle, and the most popular hybrid in the world.

[IMG]http://oi56.************/35n3te0.jpg[/IMG]
A fleet of government workers Toyota Prius in New York City

[IMG]http://oi53.************/19oad4.jpg[/IMG]
The brand new Zero Emissions Nissan Leaf is the world's first mass market electric vehicle.

[mrpanini]

Originally Posted by mrpanini

“I propose to reduce duties and taxes on passenger transportation vehicles by 25 per cent. I propose to exempt the importation of electric and hybrid vehicles from Excise Tax and VAT in order to promote environmental friendly tourism." said President Rajapakse during the 2011 Budget speech.

OK, he's not doing it for the environment per say, but to improve tourism, but any way to increase public awareness towards cleanliness and environmental awareness, and shift it towards sensible environmentally friendly thinking and choices is a good thing.

[mrpanini]

Solar power plant for Hambantota
A Solar Power station will be set up at Baruthankanda, Hambantota by the Ministry of Power and Energy to produce 737 Kw of energy. This would be Sri Lanka's biggest solar power generation plant.

The first stage would be opened next August and the land has already been allocated. Construction is expected to commence in January.

Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka said that the investment for this project would be Rs. 1.7 billion. It would be partly funded by Japan (Rs. 1.2 billion) Korea (Rs. 513 million) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (Rs. 153 million).

With the commissioning of this project, Sri Lanka would be able to save 429,000 litres of diesel used for power generation and prevent 963 tons of carbon dioxide from being released to the environment.

The Ministry also plans to install solar-powered street lights in selected areas. -SS

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2010/12/26/new54.asp

[mrpanini]

Dec 30, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya has said that 12,800 persons have been arrested by the police environment protection units located across the country.

Balasuriya has told the media that 840 suspects had also been arrested for putting up unauthorized structures, 720 for illegal felling, and 2,032 for illegal sand mining.

The police have set up 143 environment protection units island wide in every police division to help the Municipal and Urban Councils and the Environment Ministry to arrest individuals who violate environment laws and to combat environment pollution.

[mrpanini]

Dec 30, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is taking measures to promote usage of organic fertilizer among the country's farmers.

The Cabinet of ministers Wednesday approved a measure proposed by the Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S.M. Chandrasena to expand the fertilizer subsidy to farmers and to promote the usage of organic fertilizer.

Under the proposed measures a pilot project will be launched to set up an organic fertilizer production unit in each of the 25 districts in the country.

Currently, the government provides a fertilizer subsidy of Rs. 30 billion to supply the fertilizer for paddy farmers at a price of Rs. 350 for a 50 kg bag of fertilizer. The subsidized price is just 10 percent of the market price.

With the promotion of organic fertilizer the government expects to reduce the use of chemical fertilizer by 15 percent in the first stage with the ultimate goal of reducing the use of chemical fertilizer up to 25 percent.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_1...93731608CH.php

[mrpanini]

Over 1000 dilapidated buses to add to the air pollution of the 7000 bus SLTB fleet


The Government has decided to repair 1,000 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses lying idle in islandwide bus depots to solve the bus shortage along routes in rural areas.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said that of the abandoned buses, 1,000 can be repaired and deployed on rural routes. The Ministry intention is to increase the number of SLTB buses to, 7,000 by adding the 1,000 buses to the fleet this year.

"We will ensure that an adequate number of buses ply along rural routes," the Minister said.

These buses were kept off the roads and sold at auctions due to the lack of spareparts like engines and gearboxes.

"We identified that they are in good condition and have only minor repairs," he said.

Meanwhile, the 24 and 36 dilapidated buses idling at the Aluthgama and Tangalle bus depots had been repaired spending around Rs 10 million and Rs 13 million and added to the fleet recently.

Dilapidated buses idling in bus depots in Kataragama, Mathugama and Aluthgama were also repaired and added to the rural bus fleet.

[IMG]http://oi56.************/2li8l91.jpg[/IMG]
Over 1000 more of these dilapidated thick-black-poisonous-toxic-exhaust-smoke belching buses to add to the air pollution in Sri Lanka


Meanwhile, the 24 and 36 dilapidated buses idling at the Aluthgama and Tangalle bus depots had been repaired spending around Rs 10 million and Rs 13 million and added to the fleet recently.

Dilapidated buses idling in bus depots in Kataragama, Mathugama and Aluthgama were also repaired and added to the rural bus fleet.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/01/06/news11.asp


Financially out of reach right now, but Zero Emissions Zero Pollution buses is what the SLTB should be striving for...


[IMG]http://oi55.************/34relo5.jpg[/IMG]
Zero Emissions Clean Air Protera Electic bus

[IMG]http://oi52.************/358yqts.jpg[/IMG]
Zero Emissions Clean Air Sunbus hydrogen fuel cell bus

[IMG]http://oi52.************/dpi71f.jpg[/IMG]
Zero Emissions Clean Air London Hydrogen fuel cell bus

[IMG]http://oi54.************/2j4bjf5.jpg[/IMG]
Zero Emissions Clean Air BAE Hybridrive buses have been used in the U.S. for 13 years

[mrpanini]

Now even brand new vehicles must pass emissions test to receive license

Jan 24, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to remove the three-year concessionary period provided to the brand new vehicles to undergo emission test before annual licensing.

Accordingly, all brand new vehicles will have to pass an emission test and submit a report to obtain the license after the first year.

Sri Lanka Commissioner of Motor Traffic B.D.L. Dharmapriya said that a committee appointed to look into the outcome of the emission test had recommended the three-year grace period for brand new vehicles needed to be removed as it was found in a survey that most vehicles were not properly maintained during this period since no emission report was required for the licensing.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_1...95842697KA.php

[mrpanini]

Import tax on hybrid vehicles cut by 50% in order to reduce air-pollution in Sri Lanka


Feb 10, Colombo: In a measure to promote the conservation of environment the Sri Lankan government said it has reduced the import tax on hybrid vehicles.

The tax reduction from 30% to 15% for hybrid models less than three and a half years old will take effect immediately, Deputy Finance Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena has said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa last November said that the government in order to reduce environmental pollution will completely remove excise duties and value added tax on the electric and hybrid vehicles which are cleaner with fewer emissions to the environment.

source: Colombo Page

[Shakeel]

Its very unlikely these roads will ply our Lankan roads in the future. The indian/chinese companies do not make fuel efficient or zero carbon based vehicles or buses for a fact. They could start as a trial in Colombo suburbs but the way way our buses are packed and inadequate, its unlikely.

Originally Posted by mrpanini

Over 1000 dilapidated buses to add to the air pollution of the 7000 bus SLTB fleet


The Government has decided to repair 1,000 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses lying idle in islandwide bus depots to solve the bus shortage along routes in rural areas.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said that of the abandoned buses, 1,000 can be repaired and deployed on rural routes. The Ministry intention is to increase the number of SLTB buses to, 7,000 by adding the 1,000 buses to the fleet this year.

"We will ensure that an adequate number of buses ply along rural routes," the Minister said.

These buses were kept off the roads and sold at auctions due to the lack of spareparts like engines and gearboxes.

"We identified that they are in good condition and have only minor repairs," he said.

Meanwhile, the 24 and 36 dilapidated buses idling at the Aluthgama and Tangalle bus depots had been repaired spending around Rs 10 million and Rs 13 million and added to the fleet recently.

Dilapidated buses idling in bus depots in Kataragama, Mathugama and Aluthgama were also repaired and added to the rural bus fleet.

[IMG]http://oi56.************/2li8l91.jpg[/IMG]
Over 1000 more of these dilapidated thick-black-poisonous-toxic-exhaust-smoke belching buses to add to the air pollution in Sri Lanka


Meanwhile, the 24 and 36 dilapidated buses idling at the Aluthgama and Tangalle bus depots had been repaired spending around Rs 10 million and Rs 13 million and added to the fleet recently.

Dilapidated buses idling in bus depots in Kataragama, Mathugama and Aluthgama were also repaired and added to the rural bus fleet.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/01/06/news11.asp


Financially out of reach right now, but Zero Emissions Zero Pollution buses is what the SLTB should be striving for...


[IMG]http://oi55.************/34relo5.jpg[/IMG]
Zero Emissions Clean Air Protera Electic bus

[IMG]http://oi52.************/358yqts.jpg[/IMG]
Zero Emissions Clean Air Sunbus hydrogen fuel cell bus

[IMG]http://oi52.************/dpi71f.jpg[/IMG]
Zero Emissions Clean Air London Hydrogen fuel cell bus

[IMG]http://oi54.************/2j4bjf5.jpg[/IMG]
Zero Emissions Clean Air BAE Hybridrive buses have been used in the U.S. for 13 years

[mrpanini]

Corrupt provincial level politicians choking efforts to set up sustainable mini hydro power generation by demanding bribes and making threats



Provincial level politicians are making it difficult for investors to set up mini-hydro power plants demanding exorbitant bribes and resorting to threats, choking efforts made by the Sustainable Energy Authority in achieving its target of increasing power generation through renewable sources. Sustainable Energy Authority, Deputy Director General, Harsha Wickramasinghe told a recent seminar that the development of mini hydro power plants in Sri Lanka was being hampered for political reasons.

The Island Financial Review spoke to Wickramasinghe and asked him to elaborate on what he meant by ‘political reasons’, but he declined to comment. However, a mini-hydro power producer, not wanting to be named, shed some light on the official’s statement.

He said provincial level politicians were creating several problems for new mini hydro projects especially in rural areas of the island.

He said with the forthcoming provincial elections, these politicians have started to ask commissions for such projects and are even resorting to making threats, the investor said.

"As a result, some investors are moving their investments to other sectors in fear of these politicians."

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_...de_title=18457

[mrpanini]

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_1...17743578CH.php

This really pisses me off.

The corrupt former mayor of Nuwara Eliya had these very old majestic trees that gave shade and majesty to a major road cut down for his own timber racket.

[mrpanini]

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is now distributing 200,000 garbage collecting bags among residents in the city to implement the collection of 'separated garbage only' program from June 1, Municipal Commissioner Badrani Jayawardena told.

Since the program is new to the residents in Colombo the CMC will collect the separated garbage as degradable and non-degradable waste from June 1. "When people adapt themselves to the program we will encourage them to separate the garbage further", she said.

The non-degradable waste will be collected only once a week and the degradable waste will be collected as usual on a daily basis, she said. The garbage collecting vehicles with a compartment for degradable waste and non-degradable waste will collect the garbage in future, she said.

About 30 percent of Municipal garbage consists of non-degradable waste and the daily collection of garbage in the Colombo city alone is around 750 metric tonnes "We will hand over this non-degradable waste to the Pilisaru section of the Meethotamulla dump site for recycling purposes", she said.

http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/52...am-from-june-1

Bags are too inconvenient. They really need to give people plastic bins for this to succeed.