Cleanliness drive in 22 Wards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A meeting called by Mayor K Chandrika and the Health team to discuss waste management in newly formed wards (former panchayat areas) has decided to carry out a 15-day cleanliness drive in the 22 wards. The meeting was called in the wake of complaints from the newly formed wards that the cleaning drive was neglected in their areas.According to Health Standing Committee chairperson S Pushpalatha, five cleaning employees would be given to each ward in the coming days for the drive. In 15 days, the garbage heaps in many areas here which have been creating public nuisance would be disposed.  The meeting also decided to allow Administrative officers in the zonal offices with the power to grant an emergency fund to the former panchayat areas in sanitation issues. “Earlier, when we were panchayats, the panchayat committee could sanction Rs 5,000 in an emergency. Like if there was a a dead cow on the street or a dead cat in a public well,  we could use the funds. But now, since the last 14 months after joining the Corporation, we are helpless during such times and have to bear the brunt of the public,” said Sudheer Khan, councillor of Harbour. Many councillors in the newly formed wards, including Harbour, Nettayam and Sreekariyam, informed the Health Committee that they have already identified the place for setting up biowaste plants in their wards. The Committee has decided to start the second phase of the decentralised programme in the newly formed wards, Pushpalatha said.