KOCHI: The Southern Naval Command will embark on a massive cleanliness drive of the city from Thursday as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan programme launched by the Prime Minister. “The Navy will partner with multiple government agencies such as the Kochi Corporation and the Indian Coast Guard at various parts of the city and carry out cleaning efforts by removing plastic waste and shrubs in an effort to motivate all citizens to make Kochi a clean city,” a release said.
Approximately 1,000 Navy personnel from the Naval Base would associate with the civic body to clean up the area from Vathururuthy to Thevara and the entire waterfront area from Rajendra Maidan to Marine Drive including the Subhash Park and the road from Siva temple to Corporation Office and beyond upto Hotel Taj Gateway.
Additionally, about 100 Navy personnel from INS Dronacharya along with 50 Coast Guard personnel and school children would participate in the cleaning of the Fort Kochi beachfront which is being undertaken by the Youth Hostel Association of India. Besides this, family members of the Navy Personnel are being encouraged to take up the clean-up campaign in the residential areas.
“All-out efforts will be made to make the areas free of litter and disposables. A special attention is being accorded to collect all the garbage in disposable bags and centralized disposal by the Corporation. The Southern Naval Command has declared the Gandhi Jayanti this year as a modified working day for working towards all the envisaged activities,” it said. The Navy has decided to make “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” an ongoing process without restricting itself to the activities only on October 2.
