KOCHI: The Solar City project, intended to make Kochi the first solar city in the state, is all set to takeoff soon as the Corporation is planning to constitute a committee for its launch. The project that will be implemented with the financial aid from the Central and State Governments mainly aims at installing solar energy systems to power streetlights, garden lights, households, hotels and restaurants and major administrative offices.

“Initially a special committee will be set up comprising a Solar City cell and stakeholder committee. The proposal will be presented in the next Corporation Council meeting for its approval,” said a top official with the Corporation.

MARADU: The Municipality here launched the second phase called ‘Plastic Waste-free Maradu’ under its ‘Clean City’ drive on Tuesday. The attempts are to free the municipality area from the plastic waste.

As part of the initiative, the Municipality workers will collect the plastic wastes from the houses as well as the public places. According to Maradu Municipal Chairman T K Devarajan, the second phase of the Clean City drive is being implemented through Kudumbasree units.

The Biodiversity Management Committees of the coastal local bodies will be actively involved in the campaign. Information on declining marine biodiversity, threats faced by the marine ecosystem, sustainable livelihood and conservation measures will be highlighted, he said.

The Kerala campaign will be led by the district coordinators of the board in association with experts in conservation, ecology and environment. The programme is funded by the National Biodiversity Authority.

KOZHENCHERRY: Water Resources Minister P J Joseph said that the coverage of Japanese Drinking Water Scheme would be extended to more districts in the state.

KOCHI: If all goes well, Kochiites will soon be able to savour quality-rich organic vegetables. ‘Zero Waste and Safe-to-Eat Vegetables’, a major project by the district administration in association with District Agri- Horticultural Society and the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council (VFPCK), will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on May 7.

KOCHI: Almost a week back, two jaundice-related deaths were reported in the district, but it failed to put a check on the increasing number of cases of waterborne disease. At least, 80 cases of waterborne diseases have been reported in Ernakulam district alone. The Hepatitis A virus doing rounds in Ernakulam has been creating tension, especially, in the western region of Kochi, said officials at the District Medical Officer’s office here.

A recent death of a person in Edathala due to hepatitis E has sparked off health concerns in the district that had seen a grave situation last year too because of outbreak of hepatitis in various parts of the district leading to an epidemic-like situation.

An emergency meeting has been called by the District Collector at his camp office on Tuesday to review the situation and take necessary action.

The special squad formed by the food safety designated officer in the district raided eight tanker trucks that distribute drinking water and took samples from eight water sources from the Thiruvankulam and Irimpanam areas on Monday.

The raids were conducted after the squad received a tip-off that there had been a huge volume of contamination in the distribution of water across the district.

Tackling the unfriendly plastics first, Maradu Municipality has tied up with Shakti Paper Mills that will take away plastic waste collected from each household.

Starting from May, the Kudumbasree workers in various groups will be collecting only plastic waste from households. The number of times the plastic waste will be collected from each household will be decided according to the generation of waste.

Inaction renders garbage disposal by civic bodies ‘illegal'

Aluva municipality is among seven local bodies in Ernakulam district likely to face legal action for not renewing the authorisation under the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 for segregation, transportation and suitable disposal of municipal waste.

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