MAP—Mass Action for Plastic-waste-free Kozhikode, a project conceived by the district administration to make Kozhikode a plastic-waste-free region, was launched in a grand function attended by nearly one lakh people from different parts of the district, on the beach here on Gandhi Jayanti.
Actor Lakshmi Gopalaswamy lighted the lamp and actor Suresh Gopi read out a pledge against plastic waste to the huge crowd, marking the launch of the project.
Students, socio-cultural activists and environmentalists from different parts of the district had gathered on the beach for the function at 9 a.m.
Explaining the details of the project on the occasion, District Collector P.B. Salim said MAP was to be carried out in five phases. Awareness programmes would be conducted for students, Kudumbasree workers, cultural clubs and local libraries in the first phase.
In the second phase, effort would be made to discourage the use of disposable glasses and plates besides strictly banning flex boards, plastic festoons and decorative items. The cause of making legislation for an effective ban on the use of avoidable plastic objects would also be taken up in this phase. The fourth phase would focus on popularising alternatives for plastic for daily use while the fifth phase would deal with recycling and reusing of plastic collected from different parts of the district.
The project, according to the Collector, is to be completed “with sincere support of all sections of society” in a few months. MAP is being implemented by the district administration in association with the Department of Information and Public Relations and the Department of Education.
The launching ceremony started with a music and dance programme led by lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. Child artist Ganapathy was also part of the show. Historian M.G. S. Narayanan delivered a commemorative speech on Gandhi.
Screening of documentaries and talks by environmentalists and cultural leaders were also part of the ceremony. A 16-foot sculpture, made out of different types of plastic waste by ten sculptors, was also erected on the beach as part of the function.
State Industries Minister Elamaram Karim, M.K. Raghavan, MP, environmentalists A. Achuthan, T. Sobeendran, scriptwriter T.A. Razak, A. Pradeep Kumar, MLA and socio-political leaders spoke on the occasion.
