Thiruvananthapuram: A garbage-free Kerala is a lofty goal being pursued by the state government. Haritha Karma Sena, the band of door-to-door garbage collectors comprising members of the Kudumbashree Mission, are being deployed by the local self-government bodies for periodic collection of non-biodegradable waste from houses and establishments.
The service of the Haritha Karma Sena will be extended to all local body wards in the State, Local Administration Minister M V Govindan announced on Tuesday.
He was speaking at a webinar organised by Malayala Manorama as a continuation of its news series "Kandal Kothikkum Vruthi, Kandu Padikumo Keralam".
The Minister said that the number of Haritha Karma Sena members would be increased to facilitate smooth waste collection in all local body wards. The revenue deficit faced by the Sena should be compensated by the respective local body.
Funds worth Rs 2,500 crore from the World Bank under the Keral Solid Waste Processing Project and Rs 4,000 crore under AMRUT-II would be made available apart from the fund of Rs 2,000 crore which had already been sanctioned under AMRUT-I, Govindan said while stressing that money will not become a hurdle for setting up waste processing units in the State.
(AMRUT denotes Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.)
The State Government is set to conclude an agreement with the Central Government for availing the World Bank aid. The Suchitwa Mission Director has been entrusted with overseeing the process, the Minister said.
He added that only after properly planning the setting up of centralised waste processing units, steps for land acquisition would be initiated.
The project to generate electricity from waste will be set up in Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Palakkad, Ernakulam and Kollam.
