Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 12: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, Subodh Yadav, appealed to the citizens of the city to set aside one day and contribute towards realizing the aim of achieving clean, green and progressive Mangalore on March 27. He requested officials, members of the public, elected representatives, students, advocates and all the local people to voluntarily work to improve conditions in their respective areas for a day.

He was speaking after presiding over a meeting of Voluntary Work Committee for Clean Mangalore, held in his office on Friday March 11.

While requesting the city corporation officials to identify the wards which are badly in need of cleanliness drive and to submit a list thereof within two days, he urged the voluntary service organizations, and the people, particularly locals, to come forward out of their own will to work for their city. He wanted the people to be driven with the aim of achieving cleanliness, health of the citizens and for their city spontaneously, and not by the lure of publicity or for seeing his or her photograph in a newspaper.

President of the district unit of Karnataka State Government Employees Association, N Sanjeeva, announced that the government employees will work on March 27 to rid the compound of the office of the deputy commissioner and areas around State Bank of India, of filth and dirt.

Addressing another meeting, Yadav noted that the district administration has, through an order, banned the use of plastic carry bags, and that a special drive will be undertaken for the strict implementation of this order within the city corporation limits. He attracted the attention of the people that in tune with the recent Supreme Court directive, use of plastic carry bags which are less thicker than 40 microns has been banned, and that the violators will be imposed with a fine of Rs 250 for the first instance. He said that with each additional violation, the amount of fine will go up, culminating in the impounding of the business licence of the concerned. He said that five micron metres each would be shortly provided by Lions Club and Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for checking the thickness of the plastic bags used.

He expressed concern about the fact that educated people have been more responsible for burdening the environment with excessive usage of plastic. He wanted the people to voluntarily shun use of plastic.

The meeting was attended by Sheena Shetty of Jana Shikshana Kendra, deputy director of public instruction, Chame Gowda, and others.