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Socio-Ecological Review of Bolgoda Lake in Sri Lanka

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Socio-Ecological Review of Bolgoda Lake in Sri Lanka International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research ISSN: 2455-2070 Impact Factor: RJIF 5.22 www.socialsciencejournal.in Volume 3; Issue 10; October 2017; Page No. 36-43 Socio-ecological review of Bolgoda Lake in Sri Lanka Dr. Sepala Samarasekara Senior Lecturer, Anthropology Department, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka Abstract Sri Lanka is a beautiful island surrounded by the sea, also our country is worldwide famous as a country rich of Bio-diversity. It is the richest country in South Asia when consider the Bio-diversity. However this position is going down gradually. Bolgoda Lake, rich with Bio-diversity flows through Moratuwa in Colombo district. But it is being polluted at present due to the Carpentry industry. This research is both explanatory and analytical to survey how the collapse of Bio-diversity affects the environment, the issues related and also the solutions for them. In order to collect information from the chosen area a questionnaire was used as a sub document of the interviews. Those documents used to collect information from householders, businessmen who own saw mills and carpentry shops and state officials. In addition to used observation too. Also a laboratory test was done to check the nature of the water of The Bolgoda Lake. Bolgoda Lake area is mainly a Sinhalese settlement. The majority of the people are Buddhists. Most of the residents have completed education only up to GCE (O/L). The most of them have been in this area for more than fifteen years. Carpentry industry is the most prevalent and main employment in Moratuwa. It was further observed whether there is a relationship between carpentry industry and environmental pollution. Most people consider waste from carpentry industry such as saw dust and wooden chips as garbage. Water of Bolgoda Lake hasn’t been used for drinking for the past 25 years. Laboratory test was indicating that carpentry industry is mainly responsible for the pollution of waters in these areas. So it can be said that Bio-diversity around Bolgoda Lake has declined in the present. This situation can develop further. It is essential to have a proper program to enlighten people about their unsystematic use of the lake, and to attend employments environmentally friendly manner. There are some important suggestions introduced by people who living this area. They say that certain place and a proper system should be introduced for discharging saw dust. And saw mills and huts should be covered to avoid spreading saw dust. Workers in the factories must wear safety masks. Most of the people accepted that saw dust and wooden chips can be used for a worthy cause. There were several suggestions of using saw dust and wooden chips in large scale advantageously. To produce new kinds of boards (MDF etc) and to use for brick and tile kilns, to produce manure as an alternative for chemical manure, To produce heat electricity by burning them, etc. It can finally be said, with the association of state and private sector organizations and with the help of the residents, a systematic project should be introduced to protect Bio-diversity and environmental balance. Keywords: Sri Lanka, Bolgoda Lake, bio-diversity, carpentry industry, environmental pollution Introduction systems is also high. So our country is worldwide famous as a Human struggles for survival can be seen everywhere. place having high bio-diversity. Sri Lanka is the richest However, activities related with these struggles may cause country with bio-diversity in South Asia. This small island is problems between the human and nature. Sri Lanka, also also among the 25 countries of the world having rich bio- facing such issues at present, and such issue is related with the diversity. Bolgoda Lake. Colombo district is considered as the most polluted and the busiest place in this island with bio-diversity. Moratuwa Bio-diversity in Sri Lanka and the Bolgoda Environmental Divisional Secretariat is one of the most precious places that Zone have many environmental systems. Moratuwa inherited this It can be simply said that the bio-diversity is needed for all fame as the Bolgoda Lake flows through that area. The beings including humans for their physical existence. But man Bolgoda Lake borders the South and East parts of Moratuwa needs the diversity for mental and social existence too. The Divisional Secretariat. The Bolgoda lake system is situated in man has no existence without diversity. As far as Sri Lanka is the low country wet zone between longitudes E. 79 55'- 79 concerned, it is a beautiful land surrounded by the sea, 58'and latitudes N. 6 40' – 6 48' It contains 24 Grama Niladari enriched all environmental constituents conducive for living. divisions. The water of the Bolgoda Lake is being vastly There are a number of environmental systems divergent from polluted due to the increasing of population density along its each other. The examples are the sea coast, mangroves, bays, banks and other environmentally adverse activities. rivers, fresh water reservoirs, swamps, highlands, and various Bio-diversity, plant diversity, and environmental diversity of forests. The climatic diversity also is in a high position. The the Bolgoda Lake area are very dominant. So many animals number of living creatures of above mentioned environmental and fresh water fish are living around the lake. The Bolgoda 36 International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research Lake has been specially identified as a place where prawns are collected through mere observation too. abundant. The fish diversity used to be in the past is vanishing A laboratory test was done to check the nature of the water of today. The varieties of birds are facing the same destiny. The Bolgoda Lake. Seven water samples were taken from Bolgoda was one of the resting places for migrated birds in the different stations of the lake and also from the middle, near past. When considering the plant diversity many mangrove the bank etc. using suitable apparatuses. Parameters measured trees have grown. The invading aquatic plants have invaded were, Temperature (Digital Thermometer), pH (digital pH the lake. The environmentally friendly trees grown along the meter), Dissolved Oxygen (Winkler’s method), Biological banks are not to be seen today. It might have caused the Oxygen Demand (BOD) (Winkler’s method), Chemical constant discharging of wastes into the lake. This Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Solids (TS) (gravimetric environmental system once attracted tourists. But it is out of methods), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved their attention at the moment. Solids (TDS), Total Nitrogen (TN) and Conductivity. They were examined by an internationally accredited institute Objectives (Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka). The technical This research is both explanatory and analytical to survey how analysis issued by the above institute was also referred the collapse of Bio-diversity affects the environment, the preparing this report. issues related and also the solutions for them. Some suitable projects to minimize the harm done to the left bank area of the Results and Discussion Bolgoda Lake due to collapsing of bio-diversity are Socio-economic Background introduced by this research. The Bolgoda Lake area is mostly a Sinhala habitation. The majority of them are Buddhists (69%). The remaining are Sample and procedure of data collection Christians and Roman Catholics. It's a special feature that Moratuwa Divisional Secretariat laid on the left bank of the there seem not to be any Hindus or Islams. Bolgoda Lake is the study area of this research. Ten sub 62% of the participants have studied bellow Grade 8. Forty Divisions have been chosen as the sample where carpentry seven participants have completed GCE (O/L) that is 27 % in industry is attended minor and large scale, people abundantly percentage. 7.33% of the participants have studied up to GCE occupied, and the Bio-diversity is being vastly damaged, that (A/L). Only one Diploma/Degree holder was found. The revealed due to basic observations. 178 household units from percentage of never schooled is 3.37%%. This information these sub Divisions were chosen randomly to introduce a reveals us that the educational level of the area is not in a questionnaire to collect information. higher position. When the information was collected from the relevant Most of them (145) have been living in this area for more than household unit either the head of the household or a 15 years. Eleven of them have been living for 10-15 years. responsible elderly person was contacted. The majority (76%) Eight household units have been residing for 5-10 years. The of the sample who furnished the Information from the remaining 14 household units have been living for less than 5 household unit is householders. Twenty five out of 178 were years. The percentage living for a longer period in this area is women and remaining 153 were men. So 86% of who 82%. It is implied that most of the subscribers have gathered furnished information represents male and 14% female. This experiences living in this area more than one and half decades. selection was done randomly. The sample is also consisted 15 When considering the general information of the subscribers' businessmen who engage in large scale carpentry industry and their residential status is also important. Most people of the 10 other state officials working in the area. sample have been living in this area from their birth. The The age of the person who furnishes information regarding a percentage of the people who resided after marriage is 10%. complex topic such as bio-diversity is very important. The The percentage resided on account of employment is 4%. 7% value of the information given depends on the age and the have furnished other reasons.
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