The Hindu 30.10.2014
Corporation gears up for ‘Clean Kozhikode’ drive
Raising a stink:Waste bins at key positions to ensure that people do not
dump waste all around is key to the success of the project for cleaning
up Kozhikode.— Photo: s. Ramesh Kurup
With the Kozhikode Corporation’s ‘Suchitwa Nagaram
Sundara Nagaram’ project all set to be launched on November 1, the Mayor
and the working committee of the project are collecting opinions and
suggestions from all quarters for it successful implementation. A
meeting with media representatives on Wednesday gave the Corporation
some fresh insights on the importance of waste disposal.
Many
mediapersons opined that to ensure cleanliness in the city, it was
necessary to give exemplary punishment to those who caused pollution.
The idea was to closely monitor the roads and water bodies for any one
throwing away the waste or dumping them in other people’s compound and
make an example of them by punishing them as per the law.
Waste disposal
The
disposal of waste in an efficient manner was the major topic for
discussion. Mayor A.K. Premajam said that it was a hard task for the
Corporation to go ahead with such a challenging project in the absence
of a Health Officer or Health Superintendent to monitor it.
Some
mediaperson emphasised the importance of dustbins on roadsides to
ensure that people do not throw away waste along the roads. Some also
suggested separate bins for organic and inorganic waste. Some even
suggested that the Corporation should provide a place to dump the waste
so that people do not dump it along the roads.
Efficient
collection of waste from households and establishments was emphasised.
Centralised waste processing along with decentralised units like biogas
plants and pipe compost were appreciated. Stress was given to continuous
monitoring and continuing the awareness process so that the project did
not lose its tempo over the time.
The Corporation is
planning to enlist the service of residents’ associations, street
committees, merchants, students, and voluntary organisations to ensure
proper implementation of the project. As a first step, an awareness
programme will be held for representatives from various wards of the
Corporation at S.K. Pottekkat Cultural Centre on November 1 at 2 p.m.
The project aims at a completely clean city with efficient waste disposal programmes come New Year.
