Convert trash into resources at GP level: DC

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil announced that gram panchayats in the district that succeed in generating highest income from the trash collected will be felicitated and rewarded with a matching grant from district administration.

Speaking at the inauguration of Swacch Grama Campaign in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, organised by Ramakrishna Mission here, on Saturday, Senthil said the gram panchayat that provides highest value to the trash collected will be honoured.

“After having created awareness on cleanliness, the gram panchayat PDOs and staff should think of converting the waste into a treasure. Various modules can be worked out by the gram panchayat authorities in giving ‘value’ to the waste generated in their jurisdictions. Once we are successful in giving value to the waste generated in the district, then the district will become a model to the entire country and cleanest district,” he said.

The dumping of the waste besides national highway can be checked once the process of converting waste into resources commence in Dakshina Kannada district.

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr R Selvamani said that the ZP was planning to set up solid waste management unit in 25 gram panchayats to ensure effective management of waste into resources in the first phase. The zilla panchayat in association with the gram panchayats is also chalking out plans for effective disposal of garbage collected.

He said that the deputy commissioner will also be asked to notify the effective implementation of ban on use of plastic in the first week of January.

The Ramakrishna Mission too has promised to join hands with the DK Zilla Panchayat in the effective disposal of plastic waste collected. The plastic waste collected in all the gram panchayats will be disposed effectively by the end of January, he said.

Udupi ZP CEO Sindhu Roopesh said the Solid and Liquid Waste Resource Management (SLRM) units at Varamballi, Vandse and Nitte gram panchayats were self sustaining in Udupi district. The district administration in association with the zilla panchayat in Udupi are planning to set up SLRM units in all the gram panchayats in the district.

Swachh Mangaluru In-charge Swami Ekagamyanandaji said the Ramakrishna Mission will extend its Swacch Grama (clean village) campaign to 100 villages of neighbouring Udupi district.

The mission is already undertaking Swacch Mangaluru campaign by carrying out shramdaan every Sunday in different parts of the city. The villages will take up shramdaan on one Sunday of every month till October 2, 2019. The mission will provide all facilities to participating villages, including brooms, T-shirts for volunteers, awareness campaign materials and vehicle to transport collected garbage.

Further, the Mission will also promote pot composting in the district. Comprising of three units of specially designed pots, it converts all kitchen waste into manure.

Mangaluru Ramakrishna Mutt President Swami Jithakamanandaji, DK ZP President Meenakshi Shanthigodu, Udupi ZP President Dinakar Babu, MRPL GGM B H V Prasad and former MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik were present.