Kerala - Kochi   

‘Public participation needed for Clean City campaign’

KOCHI: Public participation is essential for the success of the ‘Clean City, Green City’ campaign of the City Corporation, Mayor Mercy Williams has said.

The Mayor was speaking to the media after the campaign was declared open by Minister for Finance T.M. Thomas Isaac here on Saturday. Dr. Isaac handed over a load of organic manure donated by the Corporation to representatives of Kanjikuzhi panchayat in Cherthala, famous for its organic vegetable farming.

She said there should be a change in the attitude of the public.

Even after much campaigning, the public is still not segregating bio-degradable and non-degradable waste at the source.

The Corporation is forced to employ workers to do it manually before taking it to the solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram, she said.

The Corporation has now charted out an action plan for implementing the ‘Clean City, Green City’ campaign.

As part of the campaign, 100 medium-sized waste bins will be installed in the central city area, catering to the huge floating population that comes to the city daily. Segregated waste will be collected from residences and those from the hotels and restaurants will be collected at health circles. Hotels and restaurants should remit a payment for availing of this facility.

Groups of 25 or more villas or apartments should have garbage treatment done at their own expense and responsibility.

Hospitals should make use of the facilities offered by the Indian Medical Association for treating bio-medical waste.

This should not be allowed to mix with garbage treated by the Corporation. Action was taken against some Corporation officials for not effectively checking this from happening. The Corporation is ready to start a Vigilance inquiry, if needed, to ensure this, Ms. Williams said.

The Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) unit will be installed at Brahmapuram in five months and work orders have been issued for plastic recycling units.

Five more plastic shredding units, besides the one that was inaugurated at Ravipuram on Friday, will be installed soon, she said.

Meetings of residents associations, voluntary organisations, representatives of hotels and restaurant owners, private hospitals, Kudumbasree members, Port Trust, Railways, Cochin Shipyard, Navy, BSNL, Vypari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti, Ernakulam Merchants’ Union and electronics merchants will be held at respective health circles between January 5 and 15.

Public can pass on information about garbage on the streets to the Ernakulam and Mattanchery offices of the Corporation at the toll free number 1800-425-1106.

A control room with vehicle facility will be functioning round-the-clock under health supervisors at these centres.

Severe action under the Kochi Corporation’s Solid Waste Treatment rules of 2008 will be initiated against those found littering.

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