The Corporation council on Monday approved the Clean Kozhikode campaign, a comprehensive cleanliness project for the city.
The campaign, to be launched on November 1, aimed at making Kozhikode a ‘completely clean city’ by January 1. As much as Rs.30 lakh had been set aside for the project, sources said.
Corporation Health Standing Committee chairperson Janamma Kunhunni, who presented the details to the council, said that the campaign would put an end to the practice of garbage-throwing. The campaign would explore all possibilities of garbage treatment and would effectively check the spread of contagious diseases, she said.
The campaign would be in four phases. In the first, various committees would be formed at the local- , ward- , and health circle-levels. An implementation cell and a high-level monitoring committee, chaired by the Mayor, would be formed, she said.
A seven-member advisory committee and a resource team would be constituted, all before October 30. From November 1, the primary preparations would be made, including the removal of garbage along the streets.
Those who threw garbage on the streets would be fined on the spot. Agencies would be identified to handle plastic wastes, to ensure that plastic below 40 microns was not being used, and to find out how private enterprises handled their garbage. A place would be identified to collect and store plastic and e-waste, Ms. Kunhunni said.
In the second phase, there would be cleanliness drives and awareness campaigns. The cooperation of government offices, schools, hospitals, and residents associations would be sought.
Any shortcomings in the previous phase would be addressed in the third phase. Mosquito-eradication programmes would be undertaken in this phase. Massive cleaning drives would be undertaken with the help of the NCC, National Service Scheme, and the Scouts and Guides during the Christmas vacation. The December 25-30 period would be ‘high-alert’ days, she said. The fourth phase would focus on making retaining the achievements of the drive and making it a sustained campaign.
Opposition councillors expressed concern over the practicality of the campaign.
