EU funded post tsunami construction and waste management project marks completion

The European Union funded construction waste management project, commonly referred to as the COWAM project marked its successful completion on 5 June 2009. The occasion was graced by Urban Development and Sacred Areas Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Road constructed using crushed material

Referring to this project, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka and Maldives Bernard Savage said “this project has indeed made a remarkable contribution to the city of Galle through a pioneering effort in utilising construction and demolition waste for the development of the city”.
The project, involving the lead partner Tu Tech Innovation GmbH from Germany supported by ZEBAU GmbH, Municipal Council of Galle and the University of Moratuwa, set up a COWAM centre in Galle to recycle debris left behind by the tsunami and utilised the crushed material to construct concrete by-roads. This project has helped the Galle Municipal Council in reducing the costs for road construction and is seen as a first step in providing for the development of roads in the city of Galle and to be further expanded through out the Southern Province. Commenting on this activity the Galle Municipal Council is of the view that they “have obtained construction material required for 25 road development works under this programme”.
As a result of the recycling activity, metal crushing work from rocks has been reduced resulting in environmental conservation. Additionally the centre provides skills training and promotes public awareness on construction waste management targeting the community including school children and reducing illegal dumping of construction waste.
This project comes under the purview of the EU’s post tsunami assistance programme for Sri Lanka, the Asia Pro Eco IIB Post- tsunami programme, which aims to foster environmental restoration in areas affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami; by transferring European know-how and best practices through partnerships and networking in the field of coastal environment management.
The Asia Pro Eco II – Post Tsunami Programme allocated over EUR 5 million to Sri Lanka funding seven projects in total on environmental reconstruction and rehabilitation. It made a generous contribution of a sum of approximately EUR 750,000 (LKR 112,500,000) for the COWAM project in Galle.