Latest news with #SuchitwaMission
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Strict green protocol to be followed for Vavubali
Thiruvananthapuram : The annual Karkidaka Vavubali ritual, scheduled for Thursday, will be held in full compliance with green protocol guidelines issued by the district Suchitwa Mission. The aim is to ensure the event remains eco-friendly and free from non-biodegradable waste. This year, the district administration has imposed a total ban on bottled water and single-use items like plastic cups and plates at all Vavubali sites. Instead, drinking water kiosks will be installed at as many locations as possible. Devotees are encouraged to use steel or ceramic utensils provided at these kiosks for both water and refreshments. Artificially sweetened soft drinks are discouraged. Natural alternatives like tender coconut water, lemon water, and neera will be promoted and served in reusable containers. Plastic straws are strictly prohibited. All flex and plastic banners have been banned. Organisers have been advised to use banners made of cloth, paper, banana leaves, or palm leaves to maintain environmental harmony. Waste bins made from natural materials such as bamboo, coconut fronds and palm leaves will replace plastic bins. Traditional offerings and light meals like ada and kozhukatta will be served on banana leaves or similar natural alternatives. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo Buffet counters using steel or ceramic serving dishes will replace the use of packed meals, helping to reduce disposable waste. The guidelines also mandate strict waste segregation. Organic and inorganic waste must be separated at the source. Onsite facilities should handle organic waste processing, while cleaned and dried inorganic waste is to be handed over to local bodies or authorised scrap dealers. Plastic decorations, artificial flowers and buntings are not permitted. Only eco-friendly materials are to be used. Public announcements and signage will be used to educate participants on the environmental impact of plastic. The Suchitwa Mission stressed that public participation and cooperation are crucial for the effective enforcement of these guidelines. The ritual will be conducted mainly at Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple, Shankhumugham Beach, Aruvippuram Temple, Varkala Papanasam Beach and at many temples in the district.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Proper records help Kozhikode, Payyoli climb ranks in national cleanliness survey
The Kozhikode Corporation and Payyoli municipality have made impressive gains in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings released on Thursday (July 17, 2025). The Corporation rose from 3,367 in 2023 to 70 this year, while Payyoli jumped from 3,707 to 596. Payyoli was also listed among the 20 cities awarded 'one star' in the 'Garbage Free Cities' category. 'It is not about what we did this year to improve the ranking, but about what we did not do in the previous years,' said S. Jayasree, health standing committee chairperson of the Corporation, who stressed that proper documentation and timely entries under the guidance of the Suchitwa Mission made all the difference this time. 'We have been doing our work well over the past few years, and the results were evident. However, we never gave much importance to the Swachh Survekshan Survey, and as a result, failed to present our achievements effectively during the inspections. All that changed this year,' she added. Payyoli municipal chairman V.K. Abdurahman believed that sustained efforts to maintain cleanliness in the town over the past few years had now paid off. 'We worked diligently to achieve the best possible results under the State government's 'Malinya Muktha Navakeralam' project,' he said. The municipality houses a material recovery facility (MCF) considered a model for the entire State, in addition to having a mini MCF in every division. Funds have already been earmarked for setting up more MCFs wherever needed. 'Installing awareness boards in public spaces, conducting awareness drives through mural paintings, and placing CCTV cameras at locations prone to illegal dumping helped us meet the target,' Mr. Abdurahman added. The intervention of the Suchitwa Mission in preparing local bodies for the survey has yielded results across the State, evident from the number of local bodies, including major cities, that have made significant leaps in the rankings. This is the first time any urban civic body in Kerala has come within the top 1,000 ranks since the survey began in 2016.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Kerala municipalities improve rankings in national cleanliness survey, eight in top 100
Kerala's municipalities have made significant improvements in the Swachh Survekshan rankings for 2024 put out by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to rank the cleanest cities in the country. As many as eight municipalities have secured ranks in the top 100 cleanest cities in the country. Last year, no municipality from the State featured on the top 100 list. At the top of municipalities from the State was Kochi Corporation at rank 50 among all local bodies in the country. Kochi has made a giant leap, considering its last year's rank of 416 among cities and 1,815 overall. The other municipalities from Kerala among the top 100 are Mattannur (rank 53), Thrissur Corporation (58), Kozhikode Corporation (70), Alappuzha municipality (80), Guruvayur municipality (82), Thiruvananthapuram Corporation (89) and Kollam (93). A total of 82 municipalities from the State have made it to the top 1,000 ranks. Mattannur municipality received a special national award for Promising Swachh City of a State. It climbed from rank 1,854 in 2023 to 53 nationally. In a first, 23 municipalities in Kerala have earned 'Garbage Free City' star ratings—with three receiving 3-star ratings (Alappuzha, Shoranur, Pattambi) and 20 earning 1-star ratings. Thiruvananthapuram Corporation achieved Water+ certification, and 77 municipalities received Open Defecation Free (ODF+) status. Kalpetta and two others were awarded the ODF++ certification. Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh, in a statement in Delhi, said that the awards reflect the great strides made by Kerala in waste management through the Malinyamuktham Nava Keralam campaign which was implemented intensively by the State government after the Brahmapuram fire in 2023. Kerala has become a model of cleanliness at the national level. He expressed hope that the national recognition will inspire all local bodies. In addition to the LSGD and the Suchitwa Mission, the Haritha Keralam Mission, Kudumbashree, Clean Kerala Company Limited and Kerala Solid Waste Management Project also contributed their services to the State's improvement in the Swachh Survekshan ranking. Mr. Rajesh, Mattannur Municipal Chairman N. Shajith, Additional Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar, Special Secretary T.V. Anupama, Executive Director of Suchitwa Mission U.V. Jose, and Joint Director Muhammad Huwais received the award for Mattannur municipality from Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar at a function held in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Government sets apart ₹10 crore to ring-fenced account for restoration of Vembanad, Ashtamudi lakes
The State government has accorded administrative sanction to set up a ₹10-crore ring-fenced account for the restoration of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes, designated as Ramsar sites, for their ecological importance. The move comes as a follow up to the ₹10-crore penalty imposed on the government by the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal in March 2023 for its failure to check the indiscriminate pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes. The tribunal had directed the government to ring-fence an amount of ₹10 crore for undertaking conservation and restoration activities in the Vembanad and Ashtamudi wetlands. The drawing and disbursing officer of the Department of Local Self-Government has taken necessary steps to transfer the money to the specified account, said a government order dated July 9, 2025. Biomining of legacy waste Of the ₹10-crore fund, about ₹2.39 crore will be disbursed for projects under the Suchitwa Keralam (Rural) implemented by local bodies in the Ashtamudi–Vembanad wetland region as per the list furnished by the Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission. The remaining fund will be used for the biomining of legacy waste implemented by the Kochi Corporation in Brahmapuram, it said. The tribunal had stated in its order dated March 22, 2023 that the environment compensation of ₹10 crore had to be utilised for conservation/restoration measures by preparing an action plan to be preferably executed within six months. It would be open to the Chief Secretary to collect the amount from erring officers/departments/industries/ individuals in accordance with the law by an appropriate mechanism and hold erring officers appropriately accountable departmentally or by way of prosecution and also to proceed against other entities, railways, local bodies, and industries (responsible for the pollution) within three months, it said. The penalty was imposed on the basis of the 'polluter pays principle' after the Bench observed that action taken at the State-level was also inadequate to remedy the situation. The State cannot plead helplessness in implementing guaranteed rights of the citizens and also in taking stringent measures for protection of environment and public health, it said.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Suchitwa Mission to step up activities to reduce plastic use
The Suchitwa Mission in collaboration with local bodies will be stepping up its activities to reduce the use and availability of plastic carry bags, as part of the observance of International Plastic Bag Free Day on July 3, said a press release on Wednesday. The State government has already banned several products, including single-use plastic bags, to pave the way for reducing plastic use. Haritha Karma Sena Currently, 37,894 Haritha Karma Sena members are working in various local self-government institutions to collect inorganic waste, including plastic waste, and scientifically dispose of it through the Clean Kerala Company. Suchitwa Mission Executive Director U.V. Jose urged the public to participate in the activities to make the State plastic-free by properly classifying waste and handing it over to the Haritha Karma Sena members, reusing plastic products as much as possible, using alternatives like cloth bags for shopping, and participating in activities to remove plastic waste from public places, beaches, waterbodies, markets and office premises.
