The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : VS to open cleaning drive

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Saturday, May 03, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

VS to open cleaning drive

Special Correspondent

Suresh Gopi to flag off the rallies

Cleaning programme to be participatory, says Mayor
Three-member squad to visit houses constituted

Thiruvananthapuram: The City Corporation is all set to kick off a 11-day-long pre- monsoon cleaning operation on May 5. Addressing a press conference here, Mayor C. Jayan Babu said the ward-level operation would be preceded by an awareness campaign to sensitise the public about the need for vector control and sanitation.

Two campaign rallies, one headed by Deputy Mayor V. Jayaprakash and the other led by chairman of the Health standing committee G.R.Anil, would cover the whole city on May 3 and 4. A cultural troupe will accompany each rally on its rounds.

Actor Suresh Gopi is scheduled to flag off the rallies at a function to be held at the Gandhi Park on Saturday morning.

Mr. Babu said the pre-monsoon cleaning programme would be participatory in nature. “The final schedule was drawn up after a series of meetings with representatives of different sections of society. As many as two lakh households and over 25,000 shops and commercial establishments are expected to participate in the drive to eliminate vector breeding centres”.

The Mayor said the operation was conceived as a response to the warning issued by public health experts about the possible resurgence of epidemics such as viral fever, chikungunya, dengue fever and leptospirosis during the next monsoon.

Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan will officially inaugurate the programme on May 9 near the Peroorkada market.

Four-day operation

The cleaning drive will begin on May 5 with a four-day operation to de-silt and repair drains and gutters. The Mayor said 100 vehicles would be pressed into operation to remove the sludge and silt dredged up from the drains.

Markets, bus stands, railway station, pilgrim centres and tourist spots would be cleaned up in an intensive drive on May 9. The Corporation has also constituted three-member squads to visit all houses and destroy mosquito breeding centres. The squads will distribute brochures and leaflets about water-borne and vector-induced diseases and the need to maintain hygiene and cleanliness. In the last phase, the drive will be extended to schools and colleges, government hospitals and other public places in the city.

Publicity material

The Mayor said the Corporation had prepared boards and banners to be exhibited at public places and slide shows to be screened in theatres. “Heads of departments in government offices will be responsible for keeping the premises clean. The Corporation however will provide support to remove waste on demand.”

Mr. Babu said a follow-up action plan had also been prepared to ensure continuity. “Cleaning operations usually peter out after a flurry of activity during an epidemic outbreak. We are trying to break out of this system. The public will be encouraged to observe a Dry Day every week.”

A project secretariat has been set up at the Corporation headquarters to keep a close tab on the programme. The ward-level operations will be supervised by the steering committee comprising the chairpersons of standing committees and a technical committee.

A rodent control programme will also be taken up in association with the campaign. Replying to questions, the Mayor said plans were afoot to revive the Animal Birth Control programme for sterilisation of stray dogs.

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