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Pinga Oya Symposium 2013
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC & POLITICAL FACTORS AFFECTING
SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN PINGA OYA CATCHMENT
Dr. M. T. M. MaheesSenior Lecturer in Environmental Sociology
Department of Sociology University of Colombo
Pinga Oya
MahaweliRiver
THE MAP OF PINGA OYA CATCHMENT WITH FOUR DS
Water pollution of Mahaweli
Unauthorized constructions in Pinga Oya
Water pollution in Pinga Oya
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO ECOLOGY OF PINGA OYA
Pinga Oya
Politics
Culture
Economics
Political Ecology
Cultural Ecology
Political Econom
ics
BACKGROUND OF STUDY AREA2008/ DS Reports
Divisional Secretariat
Total Population
Sinhalese
(%)
Tamils
(%)
Muslims
(%)
Population Density
(Sq/km)
Daily SW Generation ( K)/
(Only in PS area)
Akurana 59317 18260
(30.7 )
3695
(6.2)
37213
(62.7)
1931 4500
Pujapitiya 57644 46864
(81.2)
1805
(3.1)
8921
(15.4)
1067 1000
Pathadumbara 85721 64612
(75.3)
3029
(3.5)
17759
(20.7)
1884 1000
Harispattuwa 83935 73149
(87.1)
1906
(2.2)
8669
(10.3)
1413 3000
ENVIRONMENTAL & OTHER ISSUES IN PINGA OYA
• Pinga Oya being one of the major tributaries of Mahaweli, the water pollution in Pinga Oya directly affects Mahaweli River.
• Waste disposal into Pinga Oya
• Discharging of sewerage into Pinga Oya
• Illegal constructions on the river basin
• Infrastructure facilities for illegal constructions
• Political influence and conflicts among the stakeholders due to environmental issues in Pinga Oya
• Inter-ethnic contradictions and conflict tension due to water pollution
OBJECTIVE
• The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the socio-economic and political factor with the environmental problems of Pinga Oya
Methodology
Secondary dataObservationHousehold questionnaire survey (200)
Shop-owners' questionnaire survey (150)In-depth interviews (30)Stakeholders analysis (04)Informal discussions (05)
Explorative & qualitative (social science) study through quantitative findings (of natural science) based on case study through interdisciplinary approaches
WATER QUALITY IN PINGA OYA
Water quality in Pinga Oya by Gamunu Herath (2003)
• DO decreased from 5mg/L to 4mg/L and
• NO3 – N increased from 0.5 mg/l to 1.75 mg/l
• Fecal colifrm levels as high as 7500 pfu / 100 ml.
There is a strong relationship between fecal pollution and human settlements indicating frequent biological contamination from human excreta and solid waste discharged from houses and shops
Temperature /(oC) 26.1
pH 7.1
D.O. /(mg/L) 3.2
Turbidity /(NTU) 34.6
Suspended Solids /(mg/L) 53.0
BOD5 /(mg/L) 1.2
COD /(mg/L) 43.9
N-NO3- /(mg/L) 1.0
PO4- 3/(mg/L )
0.1
Faecal Coliforms
/(100 ml)
2790
WATER QUALITY IN PINGA OYA…….The average water quality data of tributary (Pinga Oya) entering Mahaweli River near the Polgolla Reservoir
Source: Werellagama, 2000
GIS MAP PREPARED TO INDICATE BUILDING DENSITY
CRUCIAL FACTORS INFLUENCING SW DISPOSAL
Solid Waste Disposal
Cultural Notion of Dirt
Social Construction of Risk
Population & Building Density
KEY FINDINGS
• Households (80%)and Women (94%)are more aware of environmental issues of Pinga Oya than Shop-owners (60%)and Male(78%)
• Households, female, elders, Sinhalese, & respondents of lower education level hold stronger environmental attitude and concern of the area.
• Political economy of the area is crucial in determining problems in Pinga Oya and other environmental issues
• Economically rich and politically powerful groups cause more damage to Pinga Oya
KEY FINDINGS…
• Cultural notion of dirt, endogamous marriage, & extended family affect the ecological system of area
• More political influence on construction which is
found to be directly linked with many ecological crisis
• Political favoritism and corruption disturbs proper conservation of Pinga Oya
• Informal mechanisms are powerful than formal institutes
MEAN COMPARISON OF ATTITUDE
Education (shop-owners)Education N Mean t value Sig. (p=.05)
Below A/L 64 32.48 Above A/L 82 31.07 4.58 .03
Ethnicity ( shop-owners)Ethnicity N Mean t value Sig. (p=.05)
Sinhala 60 32.70Muslims 86 31.37 4.32 .04
Gender (households)Gender N Mean t value Sig. (p=.05)Male 113 33.07Female 87 35.56 8.57 .004
ATTITUDE MEAN COMPARISON…….
Age (households)Age N Mean t value Sig. (p=.05)
Below 35 84 34.20 Above 35 109 34.84 4.78 .030
Monthly Income ( households)Income N Mean t value Sig. (p=.05)
Below 25000/-102 34.69Above 25000/- 93 34.74 .002 .967
Households & shop-ownersUnit N Mean t value Sig. (p=.05)Household 200 34.64Shop-owners 150 31.61 8.912 .003
The relationship between business type and SW generation in shops
The relationship between employment and household SW generation
The relationship between household income groups and daily household solid waste generation
Factors affecting household solid waste generation (Regression)
Variable Coefficient Sd error p- value
Weekly consumption of food (Rs) 0.362 0.014 0.005
Floor space of house (sq/ft) -0.039 0.094 0.741
Family size 0.560 42.111 0.000
Gender 0.064 124.026 0.527
Ethnicity 0.170 156.392 0.169
__________________________________________________________
Adjusted R Squared 0.472
Number of cases 200 Significance at a level of 0.05
WHICH CATEGORY OF PEOPLE DISPOSES SOLID WASTE INTO PINGA OYA (Households)
__________________________________________________
Frequency Percent__________________________________________________
Rich people 46 23.0Middle class people 25 12.5Poor people 2 1.0All 117 58.5Other 10 5.0Total 200 100______________________________________
People discharge black water directly into Pinga Oya
_________________________________________________
Response Household (%) Shop-owners (%) _________________________________________________ Yes 136 (68) 64(43) No 22 (11) 56(37) No Response 42 (21) 30(20) Total 200(100) 150(100)
Reasons for discharging black water into Pinga Oya(n=350) ___________________________________________________________
Reasons Per cent _______________________________________ Easiness 10.5 Physical proximity 24 Discharging sewerage during rain 16 No facilities for proper treatment 8.5 Selfishness 13 Poor knowledge 10 Others 09 ____________________________________________
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Yes No No Response
Political influence on proper conservation of Pinga Oya (Shop-owners)
Response Householders (%) Shop-owners(%)
Yes 166(83) 134 (89.3)
No 17 (8.5) 4 (2.7)
No Response 17 (8.5) 12( 8)
Total 200 (100) 150 (100)
Buildings constructed violates reservation rules
Reasons for violation
- Not enough land (42%) - Business purpose (33%)- Political support (32%)- Bribery (24%)- Selfishness (18%)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Yes No No Response
Political influence on proper Environmental Mgt of Pinga Oya (Shop-owners)
Response Householders (%) Shop-owners(%)
Yes 166(83) 134 (89.3)
No 17 (8.5) 4 (2.7)
No Response 17 (8.5) 12( 8)
Total 200 (100) 150 (100)
Buildings constructed violates reservation rules
Reasons for violation
- Not enough land (42%) - Business purpose (33%)- Political support (32%)- Bribery (24%)- Selfishness (18%)
Issuing passport application by Akurana DS from 2000 to 2009
Registration of buildings constructed in Akurana PS from 1963 t0 2009
CONCLUDING REMARKS
• Women and households who have close interaction with local environment are more aware of environmental crisis of area
• Households, female, elders, Sinhalese and people with lower education level hold stronger environmental attitude and concern
• A positive link of employment, livelihood and income with solid waste generation and environmental conservation of Pinga Oya
• The political economy and business culture of area are strongly influential on environmental problems of Pinga Oya catchment.
• Although women, informal mechanism( Mosque) and local culture are important, they are not properly utilized to control SW generation and water pollution of Pinga Oya
• Political influences are found crucial in maintaining environmental rules and regulations of Pinga Oya catchment
Acknowledgments
- Professor C. Sivayokanathan,
- Professor B.F.N. Basnayaka,
- Crossing Boundaries Project
- Dept of Agricultural Engineering & PGIA of University of Peradeniya
- Dr. Thusiatha Amarasekara, Ms. Kumudini Kumarihami,
Mrs. Marliya Subair, Mrs. Prabashini Jayasinghe