Kozhikode: A project to make Kozhikode a plastic-waste-free district will be carried out in four phases, District Collector P.B. Salim said here on Saturday.
Addressing a press meet at the Collectorate conference hall here, Dr. Salim said the project, named Mass Action for Plastic-waste-free Kozhikode (MAP), would be launched at a massive public function on the beach here on the Gandhi Jayanti day, on October 2.
“One lakh people will participate in the function,” said Dr. Salim. He said an action plan had been prepared by the authorities for the project to be completed in four months. “We are planning to make the declaration by January 26 next year,” he said.
The first phase comprises large scale awareness and sensitisation programme, mainly aimed at students of various educational institutions, including 1,500 schools and nearly 50 colleges in the district. Resource Recovery Centres to collect plastic waste will also be set up in all schools in the first phase. Plastic waste will be collected from the schools in a vehicle on a weekly basis.
Measures to cut down on the demand for plastic carry-bags and other plastic items will be the main thrust of the second phase. Specific target groups, including traders in products such as disposable glasses and plates, publicity materials like flex boards and festoons besides commercial institutions using carry bags, will be addressed. The third phase will focus on enforcing the ban and taking strict measures against violators of the law. A mechanism for effectively collecting, recycling and ensuring the reuse of the plastic waste will be given prominence in the fourth and final phase.
The Collector said that the project would be carried out with the help and cooperation of educational institutes, local bodies, Kudumbasree units, local libraries, cultural organisations, clubs and NGOs working in the district. “It has to be a mass movement with active participation of diverse groups,” he said. A large-scale sensitisation programme among the public will also be held as part of the project. According to the Collector, tens of thousands of pamphlets and other campaign materials had been printed to be distributed among the public as part of this.
As a run-up to the launching ceremony on October 2, a painting competition for as many as 2,000 school students will be held at Jubilee Hall here on September 28. “This will be held as a promotional event prior to the launch of the campaign,” said Dr. Salim, who added that as many as 101 drawing teachers from different parts of the district would also be participating in a mass painting programme on a canvas to spread the message on October 1.
A core committee with the District Collector as chairman has been formed to monitor the progress of the project.
Environmentalists A. Achuthan, T. Sobeendran, M.A. Johnson and Deputy Director of Education K.V. Vinod Babu, among others, were present on the occasion.
Source:The Hindu, 27-9-2010
Addressing a press meet at the Collectorate conference hall here, Dr. Salim said the project, named Mass Action for Plastic-waste-free Kozhikode (MAP), would be launched at a massive public function on the beach here on the Gandhi Jayanti day, on October 2.
“One lakh people will participate in the function,” said Dr. Salim. He said an action plan had been prepared by the authorities for the project to be completed in four months. “We are planning to make the declaration by January 26 next year,” he said.
The first phase comprises large scale awareness and sensitisation programme, mainly aimed at students of various educational institutions, including 1,500 schools and nearly 50 colleges in the district. Resource Recovery Centres to collect plastic waste will also be set up in all schools in the first phase. Plastic waste will be collected from the schools in a vehicle on a weekly basis.
Measures to cut down on the demand for plastic carry-bags and other plastic items will be the main thrust of the second phase. Specific target groups, including traders in products such as disposable glasses and plates, publicity materials like flex boards and festoons besides commercial institutions using carry bags, will be addressed. The third phase will focus on enforcing the ban and taking strict measures against violators of the law. A mechanism for effectively collecting, recycling and ensuring the reuse of the plastic waste will be given prominence in the fourth and final phase.
The Collector said that the project would be carried out with the help and cooperation of educational institutes, local bodies, Kudumbasree units, local libraries, cultural organisations, clubs and NGOs working in the district. “It has to be a mass movement with active participation of diverse groups,” he said. A large-scale sensitisation programme among the public will also be held as part of the project. According to the Collector, tens of thousands of pamphlets and other campaign materials had been printed to be distributed among the public as part of this.
As a run-up to the launching ceremony on October 2, a painting competition for as many as 2,000 school students will be held at Jubilee Hall here on September 28. “This will be held as a promotional event prior to the launch of the campaign,” said Dr. Salim, who added that as many as 101 drawing teachers from different parts of the district would also be participating in a mass painting programme on a canvas to spread the message on October 1.
A core committee with the District Collector as chairman has been formed to monitor the progress of the project.
Environmentalists A. Achuthan, T. Sobeendran, M.A. Johnson and Deputy Director of Education K.V. Vinod Babu, among others, were present on the occasion.
Source:The Hindu, 27-9-2010
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