Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched Haritha Keralam Mission - a comprehensive program for creating new development perspectives by maximum utilization of opportunities through waste management, water resources and agricultural development using organic farming.
This mission is for the future generations of our state. Not just the government, people too should work together," Pinarayi said while inaugurating the mission at Neyyattikara on Thursday.
Renowned singer KJ Yesudas and actor Manju Warrier - who are brand ambassadors of the proeject - were also present at the venue.
The district level inauguration was carried out at various district headquarters. In Kochi, Malayalam actor Mammooty and Sreenivasan planted a sapling at the district headquarters.
What the mission aims for?
The massive project aims to clear and remove waste from all the water bodies in the state, ensure disposal of solid waste and removal of waste water and measures to increase the area of land under cultivation.
Among the immediate programs that will be launched include the cleaning of vacant lands which will be used for vegetable cultivation, and a comprehensive waste management plan to collect, separate and recycle waste in panchayats and municipalities. Power generation from solar energy and wind energy will also be a part of this project, for which the Kerala State Electricity Board has already set the ball rolling.
A state government official told IANS that one unique initiative under this program would be setting up a 'swap shop' at 93 places across the state, where reusable products that are not of use by any family can be conserved and given to another, free of cost.
"It could be a dress, your replaced old mobile phone or even toys which you want to give away can reach the right individual through this," said the official.