Kerala CM launches mission Suchithotsavam

 KOTTAYAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Sunday launched the  year-long ‘Suchithotsavam’, which aims at making the state ‘Malinya Vimukta  Keralam’.He cautioned people against littering and asked them to support the government in its venture, or otherwise face consequences.Chandy said the government had given priority to the mission in the budget as the state was in danger of getting affected by different diseases.  Quoting expert teams that visited the state in the previous years, he said the situation was now under control. “But, if we don’t find a solution to it,  the result would be  catastrophic.” He said that gone are the days when Kerala ranked high in the health sector. “We have been proud of it and even to some extent our arrogance has taken us to the present state, “ he said.The citizens should help the government implement various schemes designed in consultation with political parties and experts.The main problem with the state was that it did not have a successful model to emulate as far as disposing of garbage was concerned.  Now, new technologies have emerged best suited to the state.The support from self-help groups, students, social organisations would be vital in implementing the programme, he said.Presiding over the event, Finance Minister K M Mani said the Malayalis are  keep themselves clean but never bother about the surrounding.Throwing waste into the neighbour’s compound, rivers, and other places have become common. This should stop for transforming Kerala into a clean state, he said. Mani hailed the Chief Minister for calling  Cabinet meetings lasting for hours to discuss the issue.  He also slighted the attitude of the people raising hue and cry when attempts were made to set up treatment plant in a particular place. He said the it was ideal to  launch the programme on Gandhi Jayanti Day so that it would help cherish the Father of Nation’s dream of seeing the villages in the country clean.    Suchitwa mission Executive director George Chackachery said that new technologies would be introduced in Corporations, grama panchayats would be given a maximum of Rs. 35 lakh to set up plants, remove shortcomings of existing plants in municipalities. The aim was to treat the bio-degradable  substances at the place of generation.Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan delivered the keynote address. Jose K Mani MP, Anto Antony MP, Mons Joseph MLA, Suresh Kurup MLA,  Kottayam municipal chairman Sunny Kalloor were  present.District Collector Mini Antony welcomed the guests. Chackachery proposed a vote of thanks. Chandy administered the pledge to the people to make Kerala a clean state.