Next 3 months crucial for Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam campaign: M B Rajesh

Minister inaugurates two-day review meet of second phase of activities

Trivandrum / September 15, 2023

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept.15: Calling for giving an added thrust to the ‘Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam’ campaign, Minister for Local Self Government and Excise Shri M B Rajesh today said the next three months are crucial for the ongoing second phase of the drive even as the government has set a deadline of March, 2024 for securing the goals set out.

The Minister was speaking while inaugurating the two-day review meeting of the campaign at Panchayat Association Hall, here.

Organized by the Local Self Government Department (LSGD), all major stakeholders from all the 14 districts are participating in the meeting to review the progress of the second phase of the campaign.

The Minister also called for undertaking a massive cleaning drive across the state starting the Gandhi Jayanthi on October 2.

Additional Chief Secretary, LSGD, Smt Sarada Muraleedharan, and Principal Director, LSGD, Shri M G Rajamanickam, were also present.

Commenting on the performance of Haritha Karma Sena (HKS), Shri Rajesh said reaching out to the households, collection of prescribed user fee and segregation of waste and processing of bio waste at source are need to be improved.

“Our achievement is somewhere near the half-way mark considering the target. There is a need for a well-coordinated move during the days to come,” he suggested. 

Shri Rajesh said HKS members should be recruited in each and every ward of the state and they should visit all the households as well as establishments under their jurisdiction on a regular basis and collect non-bio waste.

Noting the importance of imparting proper training to HKS members, the Minister said they should be groomed as a professional team and enforcement teams should give special attention to Bulk Waste Generators. 

Shri Rajesh said there should not be any delay in disbursing the reward for those who inform of illegal waste disposal under the reward scheme of the government. 

“Piling up waste at Garbage Vulnerable Points is matter of concern and immediate steps should be taken to clear it. Officials should visit the field on a regular basis and camera surveillance should be ensured at all vulnerable points,” he said.

Seeking the cooperation of People’s Representatives, departments, officials and public for the success of the campaign, Shri Rajesh said Central government’s initiatives like ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ and ‘Swachhata League Season 2’will give a momentum to the state’s campaign.

The Minister also launched the logo of the ‘Swachhata League Season 2’ campaign on the occasion. 

Directors of LSGD Shri Alex Varghese and Shri H Dinesan; Director General, KILA, Dr Joy Elamon; Chief Engineer Shri Sandeep KG; Chief Town Planner Shri Pramod Kumar C.P; Project Director, KSWMP, Shri Jafar Malik; Deputy Project Director, KSWMP, Shri U V Jose; Executive Director of Suchitwa Mission, Shri K T Balabhaskaran; and MD of Clean Kerala Company GK Sureshkumar also attended.