Waste piles up in places declared garbage-free

Kochi: Kochi corporation declared three places as green tourism destinations, 74 places as Haritha towns, 260 offices and anganwadis as Haritha offices/anganwadis, 15 markets as Haritha markets and 24 schools as Haritha schools as part of Malinya Muktha Keralam (Garbage-Free Keralam) project. However, reality is that many councillors are unaware of the guidelines for declaring a place green, and many places declared as green are not garbage-free.
Many councillors demanded the guidelines for declaring a place or institution as garbage-free at the council meeting held on Monday. Health standing committee chairman T K Asharaf stated that guidelines would be provided to councillors on Tuesday. Out of the three green tourism destinations, Fort Kochi beach and Marine Drive walkway are not waste-free. "They haven't provided the details of guidelines to declare a place or institution as green. Piles of garbage are lying in various places. Fort Kochi beach is flooded with waste," said Antony Kureethara, councillor from the area. "Councillors are important persons in making a place green. How can authorities put them in the dark regarding guidelines?" asked Kureethara, who is also opposition leader in the corporation.
Similarly, authorities who declared Marine Drive garbage-free haven't checked the ground reality. "It is a fact that garbage from the walkway is being cleared every day. But many who visit the area still dump plastic into backwaters. Tonnes of plastic lie in the backwaters close to the walkway. Moreover, at least 200 tourist buses park in Marine Drive ground. Visitors cook food at the ground and leave the waste there. It takes three or four days to remove this waste," said Ranjit Thampy, an activist.
Mayor M Anilkumar asked for support from all stakeholders in making various places and institutions in the city green.
As per Malinya Muktha Keralam project, govt plans to make all public places in the state garbage-free by March 30.