MANGALURU: “Clean & Green Ward 24” initiative was launched in Derebail South Ward of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) under the leadership of corporator Rajaneesh on Sunday.
Residents of the ward carried out a cleanliness and awareness drive in Kottara, Lady Hill and Kapikad zones of the ward separately. The initiative was aimed at making people unite and launch a campaign to keep Derebailu South Ward (Ward Number 24) clean and green. Citizens including members of various organizations and people’s representatives carried out door-to-door visits and spread awareness. They also volunteered to clean roads and footpaths. Special requests were made not to dump waste on public places and encourage them to plant saplings.
Later, they gathered at Lady Hill English Higher Primary School and vowed to keep their ward and Mangaluru city clean. Mangaluru City South MLA J R Lobo administered the oath of cleanliness to citizens of Derebail South Ward during the programme. Lobo said that the campaign is a major step towards turning Mangaluru into a clean city and it is a perquisite for the ambitious Smart City programme.
“We raise our voice against Yettinahole project and its impact on environment and fisheries. Reduction in the flow of river water to the sea will affect the fish breeding in estuary. The plastic and other waste we dispose in open will also reach the sea and thereby it will have impact on fish breeding. Hence, we need to create awareness against disposal of waste in public places,” Lobo said.
Corporator Rajaneesh said that he has identified eight places in the ward for beautification plan. “My plan is to beautify those unused public places that are not kept clean. All these cleanliness initiatives are being taken up with the help of donors and sponsors. We held several rounds of meetings were held and a whatsapp group was created for the purpose. Our aim is to create awareness on over 6,000 people living in the ward,” Rajaneesh said.
MLC Ivan D’Souza, Mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred, city corporation council chief whip Shashidhar Hegde, MCC standing committee chairman Prakash B Salian and school principal Sr Letitia were present.
Courtesy: Times of India