The pre-monsoon sanitation drive of the Corporation will be intensified in the coming days, Mayor A.K. Premajam has said.
She was inaugurating the camp “Mazhayethum Munpe” organised by the Kozhikode Corporation Health Standing Committee here on Tuesday. The ward-level cleaning would be completed before the rain started, Prof. Premajam said.
The Mayor said official sanction alone could not solve sanitation issues. Voluntary agencies and residents’ associations should make efforts and cooperate with the Corporation.
The water-logging in the city would be solved with the de-silting of the Canoly canal. Work was progressing fast now, she said.
Prof. Premajam also urged the residents not to litter public places including drains.
Janamma Kunjunni, Chairperson, Health Standing Committee, said a sum of Rs.32 lakh was set aside for the first phase of the sanitation drive. The work included cleaning of the drains. Ward-level drainage cleaning works had already begun. More fund from plan as well as the Suchitwa Mission would also be allocatted shortly, she said.
Ms. Kunjunni said a meeting of all residents of high-rise buildings would be called to discuss waste management in their apartments. The Corporation had plans to make it mandatory for new apartments to set up their own waste disposal system for sanitary napkins and diapers.
Water-loggingBut the camp also witnessed some unpleasant scenes when members of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi and Hotel and Restaurant Association raised a hue and cry about the Corporation’s apathy in dealing with water-logging during rainy season.
The Mayor clarified that they would be given an opportunity to air their views at the appropriate time in the presence of their ward councillors. Unsatisfied with the Mayor’s explanation, some of the members boycotted the camp. Some councillors belonging to the United Democratic Front were seen supporting them.
