Corporation to give life to Green Kochi campaign

KOCHI:  Extending the whole-hearted support of the Kochi Corporation to the Green Kochi campaign initiated by the City Express, Mayor Tony Chammany said that the major suggestions put forth by the environmentalists and experts during the initiative would be presented at the Development Summit that will be organised in the city soon.“We will present the major recommendations made by the experts during the Green Kochi campaign at the Development Summit that will be held in the city in December. The date of the summit will be finalised according to the convenience of the Chief minister who will  inaugurate it,” Tony Chammany told City Express on Sunday.The Mayor said that among the various proposals put forth by experts, the corporation would give prime importance to the Model Road project. “A proposal to convert the stretch between BTH Junction and High Court Junction will be presented in the summit. The project will focus on maintaining the stretch well-repaired with clean footpaths and planting more trees and protecting the existing ones on either side. Proper lighting facilities and an efficient waste management system, including placing waste bins and spit bins on the stretch,” he added.Chammany said that experts who attend the summit will hold discussions on the feasibility of the Model Road project. “Advertisement boards and flex boards will not be permitted on the stretch once the project is implemented,” he added. The Mayor also said that the Model Road project can be implemented on a public-private-participation model.Regarding the suggestion made by Indian Hotels Company vice-president T Damu on vetiver plantation on the banks of certain areas in Kochi, Chammany said that he had already asked the Town planning Committee to look into the plan. “The Town planning Committee will conduct a study to identify the areas, including the banks of the canals where vetiver planting is required. The civic body is willing to join the efforts to supply and plant vetiver,” he added.Along with  green projects, the corporation will also take steps to make the solid waste management system in the city more effective, Chammany said. “We have already initiated preliminary steps to set up a new solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram. Along with that, the corporation will take steps to address the issues related to sewerage treatment,” he added.