Loose dogs on Katunayaka Expressway

Dog problem on Katunayaka Expressway

     A number of issues have now cropped up in relation to the protective railing erected on either side of the Colombo - Katunayaka Expressway which is to be opened next 27th. While a number of places have been left exposed, if steps are not immediately taken to cover those points without further delay, once the Expressway is opened, it is reported that just as much as it happened in the Southern Expressway when animals such as dogs would find its way to the Expressway in large numbers.

     Some of the photos published here would provide evidence in this respect.

     This Expressway which extends to a distance of 25.8 kms lies almost totally in close proximity to the urban colony habitat. During the past, it was the wet Muthurajawela wetland on which this Expressway is erected that had been utilised for the purpose of dumping garbage and waste material in that area.

     The reason for the rapid increase in the canine population is that tons of garbage was being dumped into a number of places in proximity to this wetland daily.

     Even today one could see the garbage piled up on a large-scale across a number of acres in Nedurupitiya area in Kandana, approximately 200 metres close to this Expressway. The foul odour that emanated from this garbage extends upto the Expressway. Apart from dogs, even stray cattle are frequently seen loitering.

    Muthurajawela is a wetland with a biological diversity which is even listed in the Asian Wet zone list belonging to the foremost wet zones in Sri Lanka. This is a zone with a bio-diversity which comprises of 150 species of birds, 9 species of mammals, 34 species of reptiles, 133 species of fish and 72 species of butterflies. In the same way, Muthurajawela is popular as one of the most important entry points for migrant birds coming to Sri Lanka.

   There are 2 openings seen along the protected railings along the Expressway in Jaela, Delatura area. The said point is located close to the bridge on the Expressway from Delatura which runs across 273 Jaela - Pamunugama bus route. What the people in the area say is that a number of such places could be seen  on the protection railing along the Expressway which cannot be approached from main routes.

    It is estimated that after the Expressway is opened on October 27th, about 15,000 vehicles would be plying for a day. The driving speed of the vehicles also is expected to be in the range of 100 kms per hour. As such if the protecting railings on either side of the Expressway are not entirely covered prior to the opening, Animal Rights Welfare Activists point out that a larger massacre of dogs could take place in comparison to the dogs that died during the initial stages of the Southern Expressway when it was opened. In the same way, if parts of this protective railing are stolen, environmentalists point out that not only dogs and cattle, but even other wild life from the wetland would gain access.

Narration -- Tilak Senasingha
Photos     -- Nalaka Kaluvitharana