More than 400 establishments in Kozhikode city have been awarded the title of ‘Green establishments’ (Haritha Sthapanam) as part of the effort to declare the city clean under the Malinya Muktha Navakeralam campaign.
The health wing of the Kozhikode Corporation is grading 1,070 State and Central government establishments as part of the campaign and has been assisting around 600 of them to attain the status.
The green establishments are selected based on a Green audit with strict guidelines issued by the Haritha Keralam Mission. The establishments being audited need to follow the green protocol within them, while organising programmes and should also have a nodal officer for the same. They should adopt an e-filing system, refrain from using banned plastic products, have special bins for organic and non-biodegradable waste, have a system to dispose of organic waste as well as liquid waste, a system to segregate and hand over non-biodegradable waste, have clean toilets, availability of clean water and if possible have organic gardens. There are also some regular activities that they need to undertake. This grading does not apply to big establishments such as hospitals, hotels and flats, that come under the Bulk Waste Generator category.
“At present, we have only around 50 of our 530 anganwadis that have gained the Green status. We are trying to provide the required facilities to others”, said Daison, a junior health inspector, in charge of the project at the Corporation. Also, notices have been served to around 59 establishments that have not come under the grading.
In the second phase of the campaign the grading will be extended to private and semi-governmental establishments.
The Corporation is also grading the establishments under AZHAK, its hygiene protocol, the guidelines of which are tougher than that of the Haritha Keralam Mission, said S. Jayasree, Health Standing Committee chairperson of the Corporation.
Published – February 10, 2025 11:04 pm IST