'Solid waste management unit to come up at Konaje'

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P I Sreevidya said, efforts will be made to create awareness about segregation of waste at source at all 230 gram panchayats in Dakshina Kannada district.

Speaking at the valedictory programme of National Cleanliness Campaign organised by the zilla panchayat here on Monday, she said that there are plans to collect plastic wastes and dispose it of scientifically.

The Zilla Panchayat will construct a solid waste management unit, at Konaje on one-acre land given by the Mangalore University for the purpose. The unit will cover Konaje, Harekala, Pavoor and Pajeer Gram Panchayats. A proposal in this regard has already been sent to the government. Incinerators have been installed at 70 government high schools for the use of girl children, she added.

She added that in order to tackle waste menace, 22,455 pipe composts have been installed at all the gram panchayats, which  includes 8,779 in SC houses, 3,248 in ST houses, 767 shops, 919 anganwadi centres, 533 schools and 35 primary health centres.

Inaugurating the programme, District In-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai said that the disposal of waste in the surroundings should be checked. “All of us should join hands in conserving environment by keeping the surroundings clean,” he called upon.

Member of Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza termed management of waste a challenge and said that the cleanliness drive be a continuos process.

Zilla Panchayat president Asha Thimmappa Gowda said that through compost pit, pipe compost method and vermi compost units, the residents can find a solution to the waste menace in an effective manner in their locality.

“Plastic waste has become a menace everywhere. There is a need to collect the plastic carry bags and dispose them of in an effective way by recycling it. In a move to promote non-conventional sources of energy, we are planning to install solar panels in atleast 20 gram panchayat buildings this year,” she added.

Jalsoor, Aryapu, Laila, Balepuni and Kallamundkoor Gram Panchayats were given a letter of appreciation and a trophy for installing the highest number of pipe composts in each taluks. Puttur taluk also won letter of appreciation and trophy for installing the highest number of pipe composts in the district.

Software

Jalsoor Gram Panchayat vice president Dinesh said that under digital India, the gram panchayat is developing a software wherein all the health and cleanliness related messages will reach every household through SMS. “The SMS will be sent to the mobile phones of the residents,” he added.