Dr. M. BalasuriyaDr. M. Balasuriya

Deputy Chief Medical Officer of HealthDeputy Chief Medical Officer of Health

Colombo Municipal CouncilColombo Municipal Council

Sri LankaSri Lanka

Using Information and Using Information and Communication Technologies Communication Technologies

in in Urban Environmental Urban Environmental

ManagementManagement77thth Thematic Seminar” Thematic Seminar”

Strengthening the Implementation of the Kitakyushu Strengthening the Implementation of the Kitakyushu InitiativeInitiative

13-1413-14thth December 2004, Bangkok, Thailand December 2004, Bangkok, Thailand

Sri Lanka

Where we are located on the World Map..Where we are located on the World Map..

Area Area 62,705 Sq. Km62,705 Sq. Km

Population  19,238,575Population  19,238,575Population Density 304 persons per sq. kmPopulation Density 304 persons per sq. km

PPopulation growth rate  0.89% (2000 est.) opulation growth rate  0.89% (2000 est.)

Literacy Rate 92%Literacy Rate 92%

Annual per capita GNP US$ 813Annual per capita GNP US$ 813

Ethnic MixEthnic Mix Sinhalese 74%Sinhalese 74%

Tamils 18.1%Tamils 18.1%

Muslims 7.1%Muslims 7.1%

Burghers & Others 0.8%Burghers & Others 0.8%

Religious MixReligious Mix Buddhists 69.4%Buddhists 69.4%

Hindus 15.5%Hindus 15.5%

Christians 7.6%Christians 7.6%

Islamics & Others 7.5%Islamics & Others 7.5%

Sri LankaSri Lanka

City of ColomboCity of Colombo

Population : 675,000Population : 675,000

Area : 37.31 sq kmArea : 37.31 sq km

Floating Population : 500,000Floating Population : 500,000

Administrative Districts: 6Administrative Districts: 6

Wards: 47Wards: 47

No. of Underserved settlements: 1614No. of Underserved settlements: 1614

(46% of Housing Stock)(46% of Housing Stock)

Population Growth Rate : 1.14%Population Growth Rate : 1.14%

Public health & Curative services

Solid waste management

Maintenance of roads

Street lighting

Water and drainage

Veterinary services

Sports and recreation services

Library services

Public assistance

Internal and external day-to-day management and communication of information

By word of mouth (30%)

rate payers visit the relevant department to make requests, ask questions regarding services etc.,

Vertical and horizontal communication channels within the CMC organizational matrix

Telephone calls (50%)

Written complaints (10%)

Faxes & emails (10%)

The Colombo Municipal Council

Why use ICT in Urban Environmental Why use ICT in Urban Environmental Management at the CMC?Management at the CMC?

Speed & Efficiency of ManagementSpeed & Efficiency of Management

Promotes Transparency on CMC activitiesPromotes Transparency on CMC activities

Documentation Documentation

Tools that have been implemented to improve the Tools that have been implemented to improve the management and communication of management and communication of informationinformation

1)1) GISGIS

2)2) CMC websiteCMC website

3)3) E-governance portalE-governance portal

• Data visualization technique where the Data visualization technique where the attributes of geographic features are attributes of geographic features are displayed graphically in maps.displayed graphically in maps.

• Useful for the Epidemiological reporting, co-relation of information, analysis, and dissemination of information.

• Currently used in surveillance of -Currently used in surveillance of -»Vector-borne diseasesVector-borne diseases»Water-borne diseasesWater-borne diseases»Air-pollution levelsAir-pollution levels»Traffic AccidentsTraffic Accidents»Solid waste management Solid waste management

• Helps in data visualization from a spatial perspective.

Thematic mapping with GISThematic mapping with GIS

For each point there is a parcel of

information which could be obtained by clicking on it. This

sort of information is very important for

planners and also for the public.

The water-bodies are The water-bodies are polluted by dumped polluted by dumped

garbage. Weeds grow garbage. Weeds grow on islands of garbage, on islands of garbage, which trap rain water, which trap rain water,

making it an ideal making it an ideal place for dengue place for dengue

mosquito breeding.mosquito breeding.

Colombo Municipality Website opened for the City Colombo Municipality Website opened for the City rate payers in 2002.rate payers in 2002.

http://http://www.cmc.lk

This is a forum for ratepayers of Colombo, to interact with their This is a forum for ratepayers of Colombo, to interact with their elected Council members & Staff. elected Council members & Staff.

It also provides information on what services the Municipality It also provides information on what services the Municipality has to offer, and also about its reason happening and future plans.has to offer, and also about its reason happening and future plans.

The Colombo Municipal Council Website

Descriptions of each department Descriptions of each department

Profiles of the mayor and council membersProfiles of the mayor and council members

Public board with announcements on Council Public board with announcements on Council

activitiesactivities

Maps of the cityMaps of the city

History of ColomboHistory of Colombo

Complaints & ProposalsComplaints & Proposals

Features Features

http://http://www.colombocity.org

Colombo Municipality e-governance Colombo Municipality e-governance portal opened for the City rate payers in portal opened for the City rate payers in 2003.2003.

e-Governance portale-Governance portal

Rate Payers can submit requests Rate Payers can submit requests to the Municipality on areas that to the Municipality on areas that need intervention and get a quick need intervention and get a quick turnaround on their requests. turnaround on their requests.

The Mayor as the e-governance The Mayor as the e-governance administrator can monitor the administrator can monitor the responses from each department.responses from each department.

e-Governance portale-Governance portal

Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedHow has ICT been effective?

• GIS -has helped in the correlation of situational factors in problem solving.

•Website-transparency, easy access to staff and departmental information and activities for rate payers

•E-governance portal- better monitoring of turnaround on requests/complaints

Limitations to use of ICT

• Lack of computer literacy and skill levels among staff and City rate payers

•Change in operational behaviors and management styles

•Cost in terms of maintenance

•Data management

The way forward…

• The Upper Management has seen how effective the GIS system (on a pilot level) has been as a management tool for day-to-day work

•This will be scaled up to be used in other departments as well

•The next steps –Colombo City Forum -e-discussions section for ratepayers to converse with the mayor and Municipal staff..E-governance site creates a forum for closer interaction between stakeholders and this tool will enhance accountability, transparency and responsiveness in the CMCs work.

Thank you.Thank you.