Greening the cities cost Rs.1.6 m for 2011

Tuesday, 25 January 2011 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The government is scheduled to launch a greening of the Colombo city costing Rs.1.6 million today in a bid to protect its river banks.

“Diya Daharai – Thuru Viyanai” is the title given to this innovative concept that is being carried out by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) as part of building urban water bodies through the national tree planting project. It is scheduled to commence from the Diyawanna Oya at Nawala.

By Sunimalee Dias

Instead of unplanned urban development which makes cities inhabitable, planned cities are being implemented with this new project aimed at creating urban areas filled with greeneries on water fronts with walkways.

This will help overcome the polluted air, noise, high temperature, waste and bad odour resulting from congested urban centres.

Attention is being given to protecting hilltops, catchments and river banks that will be maintained by the Municipal councils and local authorities.

CEA Chairman Charitha Herath speaking with the Daily FT yesterday said that throughout the year this programme would be implemented around the country with the next cities to go green being Kurunegala, Hambantota, Kandy and Gampaha.