Nedumangad ‘going green,’ says no to plastic

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It’s one of the greenest municipalities in the district, and now, it’s about to turn greener and cleaner. Nedumangad municipality has launched a project to adopt green protocol in its limits to discourage the use of plastic as much as possible and keep the municipality free of garbage dumps. If successful, the multi-pronged strategy adopted by the municipality can set an example for other civic bodies in the state which are struggling to tackle plastic and garbage menace.

Launched under the Haritha Keralam initiative of the state government, the municipality has formed a Haritha Karma Sena under which ‘Green Technicians’ have been recruited through a voluntary scheme. They will spearhead the programme to collect segregated and cleaned plastic waste from households, offices and other establishments. The municipality has already established a plastic shredding and baling unit.

‘’We have recruited 20 Green Technicians for the first phase. For the first six months, their expenses including salaries will be met by the municipality through viability gap funding. We are also planning a survey in the next few days to determine how often should we collect plastic waste,’’ municipality secretary Beena S Kumar said. The vision is that, after six months, the green technicians will be able to stand on their own feet with the garbage-disposal programme turning into an income-generating initiative.
Situated 18 km north-east of Thiruvananthapuram city, Nedumangad is a flourishing agricultural region, known for pepper, vegetables and rubber cultivation. The municipality has 39 wards in all.

The total population is just shy of 60,000. In recent years, garbage disposal has emerged a major headache, especially in the market area. This week, the municipality is planning an awareness campaign among traders regarding the need for proper disposal of market waste. (Corporation had established a plastic shredding unit at Palayam next to the Connemara market but that project had proved to be a flop.) “The idea - my waste is my responsibility - should be accepted. Only then can will be able to find a solution,’’ Beena said.

Though a total ban on plastic may prove to be impractical or near to impossible, the municipality is hoping to discourage the public from using the material, especially carry bags, cups and plates. The municipality is planning to tie up with Kudumbashree Mission to set up cloth bag manufacturing units as part of the ‘Say no to plastic carry-bag’ campaign.

On the green track

• Nedumangad municipality launches ‘Go green’ campaign
• Hires 20 Green Technicians in phase I
• Aims for Kudumbashree tie-up for cloth-bag manufacturing