The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Call for stringent laws to deter litterbugs

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Sunday, May 11, 2008
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Call for stringent laws to deter litterbugs

Special Correspondent

Mohanlal promises to mobilise support of film personalities for pre-monsoon cleaning drive

Boost to cleaning drive: Actor Mohanlal releasing a brochure for the pre-monsoon cleaning drive by handing over a copy to G. Rajmohan, Chairman of the Pollution Control Board, in the city on Saturday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Actor Mohanlal has called for more stringent laws to discourage littering of public places. Speaking after releasing a brochure issued by the City Corporation for the pre-monsoon cleaning programme at a function here on Saturday, he said deterrent punishment was needed to ensure the success of sanitation programmes.

“In many countries, litterbugs are punished by being forced to clean up public places.” The success of sanitation activities depended on the level of public support, he said.

“The re emergence of infectious diseases is a serious threat to the State. Sanitation is not only the government’s responsibility. It is every citizen’s duty to maintain cleanliness. There was a time when Thiruvananthapuram was known as the cleanest city in Kerala. That reputation has been sullied by the habit of careless garbage disposal.”

Mr. Mohanlal said he would try to mobilise the support of film personalities for the pre-monsoon cleaning campaign. He released the brochure by handing over a copy to Kerala State Pollution Control Board Chairman G. Rajmohan.

Mayor C. Jayan Babu presided over the function. V. Sivankutty, MLA, Deputy Mayor V. Jayaprakash, chairmen of standing committees and the Corporation Health Officer Dr. Sreekumar were present on the occasion.

Information

The brochure contains information about water-borne and vector-induced diseases and the need to maintain hygiene and cleanliness. It highlights the need for public participation in sanitation, rodent control, elimination of vector breeding centres and rabies control programmes taken up by the Corporation.

Squads constituted by the Corporation will distribute the brochure among households and commercial establishments in the city as part of the cleaning drive.

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