The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Clean-up operation conducted at Vizhinjam

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Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Clean-up operation conducted at Vizhinjam

Staff Reporter

600 CRPF personnel take part in the campaign

ON A MISSION: CRPF jawans cleaning up the Vizhinjam beach on Tuesday. — Photo: S. Gopakumar

Thiruvananthapuram: A cleaning drive was organised at Vizhinjam on Tuesday as part of the district administration's efforts to reduce environmental pollution, which has been found to be one of the main factors fuelling the chikungunya epidemic in the area.

Nearly 600 CRPF personnel led the clean-up operation, which was carried out in 11 coastal wards in Vizhinjam from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. The local people, religious groups and representatives of the local bodies participated.

Vizhinjam has been vulnerable to frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases because of unhygienic surroundings, overcrowded living conditions, lack of safe drinking water and total lack of sanitation. The decision to seek the help of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans in organising a massive clean-up operation was taken at a meeting of all local bodies and health officials, called by District Collector N. Ayyappan, last week.

Five earth movers and eight tipper lorries were deployed to remove the filth and garbage that had accumulated over the years. All biodegradable waste was buried in deep pits, while non-biodegradable waste was sent to the garbage plant at Vilappilsala.

Vizhinjam MLA George Mercier, who inaugurated the drive, said garbage clearance on a daily basis was the responsibility of the local panchayat. Unless permanent measures were devised for regular garbage disposal and sanitation, the problems of the local people would persist.

CRPF DGP Gopinathan Nair, the District Collector, and members of the local bodies were present on the occasion.

Evaluation meeting

Meanwhile, the District Medical Officer convened a meeting of all medical officers and field workers in coastal health care institutions for an evaluation of the situation in the wake of the chikungunya outbreak.

The medical officers reported that the number of fever cases was coming down. Only 18 cases were reported on Tuesday. The meeting assessed the manpower situation and the field activities being carried out.

It has been decided to intensify house-to-house awareness campaigns to ease the panic that has gripped the local people. Health workers will also make follow-up visits at homes where viral fever was reported.

Source reduction activities to destroy the breeding grounds of mosquitoes will be intensified. Funds for medicine purchase have already been allotted to panchayats.

The district health administration has also allocated Rs.4 lakh to Athiyannoor, Parassala, Nemom, Perumkadavila, Kazhakuttam, Vamanapuram, Vellanad, Chirayinkeezh, Varkala and Kesavapuram block panchayats for necessary preventive measures and awareness programmes to tackle infectious diseases.

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