The Army working on the Meetotamulla garbage dump site to stabilise its mbankment, is expected to complete its task before the onset of the rains to avoid further catastrophe, Landslide and Risk Management Division Head of National Building Research Organization (NBRO), R.M.S Bandara said.
He said the Army had completed 90 percent of the soil stabilisation work at the site.
Experts have warned the trash mountain could slide again if the area experiences heavy rain in the coming days.
The massive garbage mound at the Meetotamulla marshy land collapsed on April 14 completely destroying nearly 80 houses and killing 32 men, women and children. The NBRO has concluded that, the extra weight caused by heavy rains on the peat soil in the marshy land had caused the mound to collapse.
“We have already demarcated the hazard zone and over 230 houses will have to be re-located in this area. Now the work is on developing the clogged drainage system to ensure there will not be a flood situation after the rains,” Bandara said.
Soon after the incident, there was a minor flood situation due to clogged drains in the densely populated area. Meanwhile a Japanese team of scientists working on the site coordinated by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are expected to hand over a report to the Prime Minister on Monday.
The team had observed very high levels of methene gas in the air where the trash-slip occurred.
Methene, a highly inflammable gas is produced by decomposing waste in such landfills.