Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Campaign against communicable diseases

Photo: S. Mahinsha

HELPING HAND: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan along with Ministers C. Divakaran, P.K. Sreemathy and M.A. Baby at the State-level inauguration of the four-month intensive campaign against communicable diseases, in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KCSTEC) has been asked to make interventions and evolve precautions to face the climate change in the State, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said.

He was speaking after launching a four-month intensive campaign for the prevention of communicable diseases here on Monday, coinciding with World Health Day.

Although the Union government had announced that it would come up with an action plan to face the climate change, the Chief Minster said it had failed to do so. The loss suffered by the State in the unprecedented summer rain in many districts of the State in March was estimated at Rs.1,000 crore.

Lack of cleanliness and accumulation and dumping of garbage resulted in breeding of mosquitoes and spread of communicable diseases. Some cases of chikungunya had been reported. Garbage was being dumped into lakes, ponds and other water bodies. Hospital waste was also being dumped in the open spaces. Even five years after the expiry of the deadline fixed by the Supreme Court, garbage plants could not be set up in all cities. He said e-waste being dumped from developed countries was another major threat facing the State. The IT Mission and the KCSTEC were asked to take steps to curb it.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the existing garbage disposal system was unscientific and needed a revamping. A cleaning drive would be taken up in the State from May 5 to 15 before the onset of monsoon.

Later, he administered a pledge to those who assembled at the function, held at the Central Stadium.

Minister for Health P.K. Sreemathy, in her welcome address, said the criticism had come to the notice of the government that the State was lagging behind in the health sector. A concerted effort was needed from all quarters to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and to ensure cleanliness in the State. A sum of Rs.48.39 crore obtained from the Union government had been sanctioned to the corporations, municipalities and panchayats in the State for implementing the Arogya Keralam project.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C. Divakaran presided over the function.

Minister for Education M. A. Baby, district panchayat president Anavoor Nagappan; Chief Secretary P.J. Thomas; Special Secretary, Health, Usha Titus and Secretary, Local Administration, T. K. Jose were present.

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