LSGD evaluation reveals gaps in solid waste management in Kerala’s Ernakulam
The Hindu
As many as 17 local bodies in the district are yet to set up material collection facilities for storage of non-biodegradable waste
An assessment by the Local Self Governments Department (LSGD) has found that 17 local bodies in Ernakulam have not set up material collection facilities for storage of non-biodegradable waste as per norms.
The gaps in waste management were revealed in the latest round of evaluation done by the department. The erring civic bodies include Ezhikkara, Paingottur, Chellanam, Kumbalam, Vazhakkulam, Vengola, Okkal, Karukutty, Vadavucode, Malayattoor, Mazhuvannoor, Aayavana, Elamkunnapuzha, Thuravur, Keerampara, and Sreemoolanagaram.
Koothattukulam Municipality, which had lagged behind, made initial steps by identifying the location for the facility, according to official estimates.
Several principals of government and private schools in Delhi on Tuesday said the Directorate of Education (DoE) circular from a day earlier, directing schools to conduct classes in ‘hybrid’ mode, had caused confusion regarding day-to-day operations as they did not know how many students would return to school from Wednesday and how would teachers instruct in two modes — online and in person — at once. The DoE circular on Monday had also stated that the option to “exercise online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians”. Several schoolteachers also expressed confusion regarding the DoE order. A government schoolteacher said he was unsure of how to cope with the resumption of physical classes, given that the order directing government offices to ensure that 50% of the employees work from home is still in place. On Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) had, on the orders of the Supreme Court, directed schools in Delhi-NCR to shift classes to the hybrid mode, following which the DoE had issued the circular. The court had urged the Centre’s pollution watchdog to consider restarting physical classes due to many students missing out on the mid-day meals and lacking the necessary means to attend classes online. The CAQM had, on November 20, asked schools in Delhi-NCR to shift to the online mode of teaching.