     
Where the buffaloes roam......
Ever since the last of our
colonial masters went back home and left the destiny of
this country to its sons and daughters, the subject of
Town and Country Planning - Urban Development as it is
called today - has been grossly neglected. There have
been professionals of distinction who have headed these
departments but the investments made by almost all
governments to plan out the urban and rural environments
have been minimal. This is because long term development
projects such as building of highways, satellite towns,
drainage systems are long gestation plans which do not
interest wobbling governments who do not expect to stay
in power for a full term of office. Even if they do last
the full term, some of these projects may not reach
fruition before their time is up and hence have no
political dividends.The reason for investments in
electricity distribution schemes and land settlements was
that they are short- term vote bagging projects
Thus, we have a situation where not even a few miles
of rail track have been added on to what the British left
us with, no modern highway opened up and the city of
Colombo and urban towns like Kandy, Galle and Nuwara
Eliya, Negombo, Batticaloa and Jaffna remaining in
practically the same state they were when they British
departed. Colombo perhaps has undergone some
transformation as a result of private investments but the
infrastructure remains unaltered. The sewerage system is
more than one hundred years old. And that is only for the
Colombo Municipality - not the suburbs. The suburbs have
burgeoned twenty five miles and more to the North to
Negombo and the Kandy Colombo Road and Southwards to
Panadura. But not one public park worth talking about has
been opened up. No additional sewerage system and no
planned zoning of residential and urban areas have taken
place. Only the Jayewardenapura area which was opened up
under the UNP of President Jayewardene has some semblance
of town planning and for that President Jayewardena was
accused of wasting public funds by one and all.
The critical point is being reached now in most of
these urban areas. And that unique town of Kandy, which
was known for its unsurpassed beauty, has now turned out
to be an urban night mare - a densely populated slum
choking to death from over population and maddening
number of vehicles.
Last Saturday, our correspondent Carl Muller, the
internationally renowned writer now resident in the
suburb of Mulgampola in Kandy, wrote in his trenchant
style the threat that this town with its unique scenery
is facing. All that remains today of what Kandy that was,
is the Dalada Maligawa and the lush green Udawatakelle
forest above the Maligawa. Now, a move is under way to
construct a road right through this precious forest
reserve in order reduce traffic congestion in town. We
recommend a second reading of this article by Muller to
our readers to realise the organic link that exists
between this forest and the Temple of the Tooth and the
threat that both face from this proposed road through
this priceless forest reserve. A massive protest is being
planned by the people of Kandy. All those who consider
this town to be a part of the heritage of this country
should join in this protest and save Udawattekelle from
the vandals.
A person who is unfortunate enough to be in Kandy town
during working hours today will realise that this
proposed road is not the answer to the town that is
choking itself to death. On this basis some sage might
even suggest the answer to all the traffic congestion is
to fill up Kandy Lake and make it a huge parking lot to
ease traffic congestion!
Kandy's problems need intensive studeis in urban
planning and vast investments. The town itself and its
environs are heavily overcrowded. The hills are being
denuded and homes and tourist hotels are precariously
hanging on steep slopes. There has been no urban planning
and massive earthslips in the near future seem
inevitable.
It is obvious that what has been known as Kandy town
cannot take any more in population, commercialisation and
vehicular traffic. It has to be cordoned of and satellite
towns, rings roads etc thought of.
Carl Muller points out to the Kandy being a town under
seige after the bombing of the Maligawa. There are army
check points blocking up main streets that has resulted
in Bangkok style traffic jams. Some residents say that
the problem is aggravated by second hand car dealers
using municipal parking lots as their show rooms!
Muller in his article on Saturday dedicated a song to
Kandy as it is today:
Oh, give me a home
Where the Adigars roam
And the cops and the Nilames play;
Where seldom is head
An encouraging word
And the people are dismal and grey.
A wag from Kandy has rushed in and amended version
pointing an accusing finger to self-appointed Adigars,
Nilames and pliant politicos who run Kandy today.
Oh, Kandy's today a home
Where the buffaloes roam
And the adigars in uniform play;
Tin soldiers each day
Down Maligawa Way
And the Nilame is conning all day.
Can Kandy be saved?
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