Nipah virus plays spoilsport

KOZHIKODE: The Nipah virus has played spoilsport with the week-long programme planned by the district administration in cooperation with the city corporation in connection with the World Environment Day on Tuesday. The programme and the decision to announce the city as completely plastic-free have been dropped in the wake of the virus attack. The theme of this year's World Environment Day was 'Beat the plastic waste' which has turned fruitless in the district. "The programme included participation of school and college students in various activities to create awareness among the public on how to effectively manage plastic waste generated from the households," said Mr K.V. Baburaj, health standing Committee chairman of the  corporation.  

"With the help of Niravu, the organisation that is helping the corporation in recycling the plastic waste, we were planning to clear the existing plastic waste in the city during the week and declare ourselves as the first plastic-free corporation.  We were able to reduce at least one tonne of plastic waste from the district through the administration's intervention to stop supplying plastic carry bags in the supermarkets," collector U.V. Jose said.

This was started from January 1 onwards as part of the zero waste projects. The second phase is to promote cloth bags for which the administration has directed the owners of supermarkets to replace plastic bags with cloth bags. This will become an occupation for the women involved in manufacturing cloth bags, he added. In Kannur, Kasargod and Wayanad districts, over five lakh saplings will be planted on Tuesday.