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.

The Times of India        24.10.2014  

‘NMMC must be proactive to help prevent dengue’

Navi Mumbai: While the civic body insists that there is no need to panic about the spread of dengue, the private hospitals advise caution. Going by the civic health department figures, there has been no suspected dengue cases in October so far and 18 cases in September (number of confirmed cases not available) this year.


General physician Dr Farah Ingle, who consults at MGM Hospital and Fortis Hospital in Vashi, said that in October alone around 200 cases have been confirmed at both hospitals. "Patients have been coming in with a low platelet count of around 7,000 to 8,000 (normal count is between 1.5 and 4.5 lakh)," she said. She blamed mosquito menace, heat and erratic rainfall for the rise in the number of dengue patients.

Clearing stagnant water is the first preventive step, she added. "The civic body should play a larger role and fumigation should be done frequently," she said.

Dr Sandeep Sonawane, specialist, internal medicine, at Sai Snehdeep Hospital in Koparkhairane said that in October almost 30 cases have been admitted to the hospital. "Climatic changes and the failure to control mosquito population are leading to increase in such cases," he said.

Dr Akshay Challani of Wockhardt Sterling Hospital in Vashi, said that there have been 22 dengue cases admitted in October.

An official from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation health department said that the civic body has launched an awareness campaign to control the spread of dengue fever. "Fumigation, along with distribution of pamphlets, is being done regularly," said the official.

Civic chief health officer Deepak Paropkari was not available for comments.