: A meeting of the Kozhikode Corporation Council on Monday resolved to ban all types of disposable cups and plates as part of eliminating risk from harmful substances that are used as coating on these items. The ban also covers plastic straws used in juice parlours and other outlets.
Deputy Mayor Meera Darshak, who chaired the meeting, said the ban was being imposed in view of various reports of health risks from use of such products. Pointing out another form of danger from such products, chairman of the standing committee on Health K.V. Baburaj said when discarded indiscriminately, these items became receptacles for rainwater and turned into breeding spaces for mosquitoes that transmitted virus that caused dengue or chikungunya.
In keeping with the drive against plastics, the Corporation would also remove the plastic waste at the West Hill plastic recycling unit. It has set for itself a deadline of June 29 to complete this task.
Even as the district administration formalised a massive cleaning drive for June 5, as part of a State-wide pre-monsoon cleanliness drive, the Corporation would launch it at the Palayam market at 8 a.m. on Tuesday (May 31).
A special squad comprising health inspectors would ensure that only bio-degradable waste would be shifted to disposal point at Njeliyanparamba.
Prior to this discussion, the Opposition United Democratic Front staged a walkout after the Deputy Mayor refused sanction to move a resolution condemning an alleged attack at Kallayi on Nirmala, a councillor from Ward 37. The councillor was emerging from a meeting on a dispute over a path near a school in that area when the alleged attack took place.
When Congress councillor and Leader of the Opposition P.M. Suresh Babu moved the resolution, it was rejected on the grounds that the attack was blamed on the Left Democratic Front government, suggesting that this was a fall-out of the front coming to power.
After walking out along with other UDF councillors, Mr. Suresh Babu denied that he had accused the government or any party of the attack.
