K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA, said on Tuesday that people should follow the message of maintaining cleanliness given by Mahatma Gandhi.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations organised by the District Administration at the Bhujanga Park here. He also released a booklet, “Papu Gandhi, Gandhi Bapu Ada Kathe”, written by Bolwar Mohammed Kunhi brought out by the State government, on the occasion.
Mr. Bhat said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had carried forward Gandhiji’s message on cleanliness and sanitation and launched the Swachh Bharat programme in the country four years ago. The Swachh Bharat programme was getting a lot of attention and people were now more aware about cleanliness than before. “But a thorough change in mindset was required before we reach the goal of total cleanliness,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said that a “No Plastic” campaign had been launched in Karkala taluk. People should take the initiative to reduce the use of plastic by taking cloth bags to markets. The Green Protocols adopted by Udupi district about a year-and-a-half ago was now being adopted in the entire State.
It was essential that there was segregation of waste at source. People should use wet waste or kitchen waste as manure in their gardens or take up pipe composting. Dry waste could be collected by self-help groups and later, recycled or disposed of. Even big apartment buildings should start adopting bio-bins or biogas plants to deal with the large amount of wet waste. This was the proper way of dealing with wet waste, she said.
In Udupi city, about 75 tonnes of waste, mostly wet waste, was being generated during a single day during festivals. Voluntary organisations had an important role to play in creating awareness about segregation of waste at source and their disposal. “Our ultimate aim should be to make Udupi, a ‘No-Plastic and a Green district’,” Ms. Francis said.
Pundalika Marathe, writer, delivered a lecture on the life, times and achievements of Mahatma Gandhi. Dinakar Babu, president of Zilla Panchayat, Sheela K. Shetty, vice-president, Nalini P. Rao, president of Udupi Taluk Panchayat, and others were present.