Suggestions pour in at CMC cleanliness meet

In a public meeting organised by Chikmagalur City Municipal Council as a preparation to cleanliness campaign, civic society members and organisations came up with a list of suggestions, on Thursday.

Though the meeting was to discuss on cleaning Basavanahalli lake, the citizens gave suggestions to the City Municipal Corporation to take up cleanliness drive across the city.

In the meeting chaired by CMC President K S Pushparaj, social activist K T Radhakrishna said that though Life Line Feeds company had beautified Azad Park, making it a better place for people to walk and relax, filthiness has begun to spread. The beauty of the park is being lost and immediate steps should be taken to restore cleanliness, he said.

Jilla Mahila Jagruthi Sangha President Gowramma Basave Gowda said that the Sangha had taken up the work of house cleaning drive in the past. But, not many houses supported the drive as the organisation has no legal power to initiate drive. The CMC can take up a similar drive and create awareness using its powers. Each ward in the CMC could be handed over to a NGO for cleanliness purpose. The CMC has to identify a place to dump waste and action has to be initiated against those who violate the rules, he said.

CMC member Heeremagalur Puttaswamy complained that despite spending money on developing Kote Kere Basavanahalli lake, the lake is in deplorable condition, as drainage water joins it. Measures should be taken to ensure that waste from shop and slaughter houses is not dumped into lakes and valleys, he advised.

Another CMC member Roobin suggested for a plastic ban, while citizen Venugopal suggested that every shop owner has to keep a dust bin in front the shop. Responding to the suggestions, MLA C T Ravi directed the CMC to form an action plan to implement the suggestions given by public. Pamphlets with cleanliness message with the photographs of the prime minister and chief minister should be distributed among the residents.

“Cleanliness campaign should be a people’s movement. Committees should be formed in every ward headed by local councillor and carry out the drive regularly. Toilets should be constructed in every commercial complex. Pay and use toilets should be constructed,” the MLA instructed.

He also suggested the CMC to open Whatsapp and Facebook accounts and be active in propagating cleanliness. Those who violate the cleanliness rules should be penalised, he said.