Residents’ associations to follow green protocol

The residents’ associations in Kozhikode city will have to follow the green protocol for every event they organise if the participation is more than 20 people. This is a major clause in the plastic, solid-liquid and e-waste management guidelines 2016 of the Kozhikode Corporation that the residents’ associations are expected to adhere to.

More than 540 residents’ associations in the city were represented at an awareness programme organised by the corporation on Friday. Around 50,000 houses will come under the comprehensive waste management plan of the corporation. However, more than 250 associations are yet to respond to the corporation’s call.

The associations will have to organise waste management awareness programmes for residents and help the corporation in its efforts to minimise mosquito breeding. They will also have to prepare a directory of houses to ensure that every house is part of the schemes proposed by the corporation.

The associations will also have to contribute to the proposed 1,200-strong Green Task Force which plays a major role in the action plan. At present, there are 1,25,000 houses and around 30,000 establishments in the city that will benefit from the waste management programme. However, only 340 members of the Green Task Force could be sourced from Kudumbasree, of which only 110 have been trained.

The residents’ associations are expected to nominate members into the force at the rate of one for 50 houses. The Green Task Force will be responsible for the collection of non-biodegradable waste from houses, creating awareness about the waste management programme and helping set up source-level waste management methods in each household.

The last date for associations to register under the programme is April 25. Corporation Health Officer R.S. Gopakumar said every house in the city would have a green ambassador in the second phase of the programme.