Political-Geographic Scales of Environmental Injustice: Understanding the Flood-Affected Neighbourhoods on the Banks of the Kelani River in Colombo

Abstract

Environmental injustice has become a detrimental reality in urbanizjngdeveloping world. Branding of communities as ‘encroachers’ due to the absence of property rights has caused insecure rights to clean air; safe dunking water and live in a safe environment. This shows that the term property rights' is mis-defined as ;right to life’. The observable small geographic extent of the problem tendsthe decision makers to recognize that as a minor issue at neighborhood pockets but the author’s reading argues such places as icebergs which cover the unseen broader geographic context. This study emphasizes how the negligence of the broader geographic context made many decision makers fail to address the burning issues exists at these vulnerable urban pockets. The research hasbeen built on the empirical evidences of two community groups which reside in frequen flood prone area as well as adjacent to a solid waste disposal site in the banks of Keleni River. This narrates the people’s attempts to obtain their right to life through continuous attempts to cope, survive and adapt to environmental injustice. The revealed complexities of political-geographic boundaries urge to rethink the urban planners' perception of the scale and in that light to offer the duly importance to the issues of environmental injustice of the poor urban settlers.