Make Green & Clean Bio Energy City in Galle

Background Information

There is a policy called “Haritha Lanka Program” that indicates the need of city greening, waste-free Sri Lanka and using alternative energies. It was the government policy document which was presented by Central Environment Authority in Sri Lanka. In accordance with that 1,000 domestic biogas plants have been promoted as an alternative solution for energy problems and waste management solution with multiple benefits. In addition, they have mentioned, that the government will increase the green coverage as a solution to climate change and adaptation in the future.

Goals of the Initiative

This program was aimed to achieve following goals:

•Build up green partnerships among the public and private sector to create a carbon free city

•Increase green job opportunities for young people to become environment guards

•Promote green tourism to save the environment

•Increase the natural environment of the city to create comfortable living

•Introduce advanced technology for a city greening system and evaluation for carbon credit

Project monitoring and evaluation as well as plan within the project such as progress monitoring will be conducted by the working committee. They will present the progress of the project to the head of HELP-O and discuss the positive and negatives. Information of the plant bank will provide a source of measurement by analyzing how many plants were grown and how many plants were planted in the city. Automatically calculate the number of green package users. All the calculations and information will be maintained by the plant bank. The usage of waste management can be monitored through municipal council information by evaluating the number of approved building plans with sustainable waste management packages.

Innovation for the Initiative

This project concept was revolutionary and it was a big challenge to undertake, because this kind of project concept has not been practiced in Sri Lanka before. We have faced difficulties introducing the concept and its needs. Although the city greening program is similar to biogas programs, waste management was a new concept to all. Especially, the community biogas program was a new concept and those programs also support changes in behavior patterns of the community. Parallel to this community biogas program there was and emerging community financing program for livelihood development at the village level.  

Outcomes and Assessments

•Within the city’s means to minimize waste and implement proper system for it.

•Good environment conservation process with involvement of all stakeholders

•Biogas is a good alternative solution for waste problems and for energy problems as well as for climate change

•The municipal department can’t manage the waste alone and thus it requires an integration of Public Private Partnership.

•It needs a strong committee to monitor and evaluate the program in future

•Chairman is the Hon. Mayor of the Galle

•The secretary is responsible for the HELP-O

•Major part of the committee is taken by Galle Municipal Council and Central Environment Authority

•Any biogas plant should be approved by the committee before starting

•Make Galle a “Clean and Green Bio Energy City”