46 SWM units sanctioned to Dakshina Kannada district

Zilla panchayat president Meenakshi Shanthigodu said that 46 solid waste management units have been sanctioned in Dakshina Kannada district.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, she said efforts will be made to segregate waste and will focus on implementing ban on plastic. The work on sewage treatment plant (STP) at Kinnigoli is in progress. The unit cost of each solid waste management unit is Rs 20 lakh. Already, 18 units have been functioning in the district, she informed.

The council of the zill panchayat has approved ‘Swachh Nithi-2017,’ focussing on the implementation of plastic ban at the gram panchayat-level. She said that the zilla panchayat aims to convert each village into a clean village by effectively implementing cleanliness policy.

The ZP president said that under ‘Swachh Nithi-2017,’ a committee will be constituted at the gram panchayat-level to monitor the implementation of plastic ban.  To a query on plastic hoardings and flex boards that continue to dot the landscape at gram panchayat-level, she said all the gram panchayat panchayat development officers (PDOs) have been directed not to give permission for plastic flex.

Vented dams

To increase the groundwater table, the Dakshina Kannada ZP has decided to construct minimum five vented dams in all the 230 gram panchayats in the district under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Scheme, the president said.

The work on 168 vented dams has been completed. When all the vented dams are complete, the water shortage during peak summer could be solved to some extent, she said. Provision has been made for planks for the vented dam while preparing the estimate. To maintain the vented dams, users’ association will be constituted at the gram panchayat-level, she clarified.

She said the Dakshina Kannada ZP will suggest all the GPs to ensure that open wells are dug in each house while issuing license to the houses. The construction of open wells and vented dams to increase the groundwater table will reduce the dependence on borewells during peak summer, she felt.

She said that under Pradhan Manthri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana, 117 vented dams have been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 541.24 lakh to increase the groundwater table, to help the farmers to solve the water crisis.