Kochi: The state government is actively considering a proposal for promoting the use of CNG in vehicles to curb pollution , minister K. Babu said here on Thursday.
The minister was participating in the World Environment Day celebrations organised by the state pollution control board. Minister Aryadan Muhammad , who inaugurated the celebrations, blamed the absence of a proper sewage management system and the large number of vehicles plying on its streets for the high level of pollution in Kochi. “Being the commercial capital of the state, Kochi has the highest number of vehicles and so higher air pollution. The city needs a permanent pollution monitoring system like the monitoring station set up by the PCB at Eloor,” he suggested. Mr Mohammed later distributed excellence and appreciation awards in the area of pollution control to various organizations.
Also present were MLAs Hibi Eden and Benny Behanan and PCB chairman, K. Sajeevan.
In other events to mark the day, writer, M.K Sanu planted a sapling of the rare tree species, ‘Lakshmi Tharu’ (Simarouba glauca) in the grounds of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). Distributing seeds of vegetables and paddy to its staff, he urged the organisation to plant trees in its vacant plots.
The writer also inaugurated the Thanal Nature Club, a recreation club of GCDA employees. Authority chairman, N. Venugopal planted trees at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on the occasion.
While District Medical Officer, Dr. Hazeena Muhammad planted a tree sapling to inaugurate the Environment Day celebrations organised by the DMO staff welfare association, officials of the City Corporation took a sanitation pledge to keep the environment clean.
NCC cadets, NCC officers and associate NCC officers planted 3000 saplings in educational institutions in the city to mark the day.
Col P.P Tiwari, Officiating Group Commander of NCC Group Headquarters, Ernakulam, Lt Col Shri Kumar, Commanding Officer, 21 Kerala Bn NCC, Ernakulam and Col H Padmanabhan, Commanding Officer, 22 Kerala Bn NCC led the programme.
Meanwhile, green activists took out a processipm to the construction site of the Metro Rail coach maintenance yard at Muttom to protest against the reclamation of wetlands for the project. Noted green activist, C. R Neelakandhan inaugurated the protest.
