Kerala
No Marriage Certificates Will Be Granted If Found Guilty Of Using Plastic Plates During Wedding In This Village Of Kerala
Phenomena of Green Weddings in Kerala goes big, now, a village in Kannur district has come up with more stringent rules in a bid to make Kerala a zero-waste state
Highlights
- Kerala aims to kickstart a zero-waste plan by November 1
- Kannur is Kerala’s first plastic free district
- Kolad panchayat comes up with new laws & give boost to green protocol
New Delhi: Kerala is upping its Swachh game with each passing day by taking various steps for effective waste management. Under state’s Green Protocol movement, usage of plastic and other non-degradable articles including disposable glasses and plates and thermocol decorations in the weddings are prohibited. Now, taking a step ahead, the Kolad panchayat in Kannur district that’s already has attained the tag of Kerala’s Plastic Free district has passed new rules for better enforcement of waste-free rules.
Under their initiative ‘Maalinyamillatha Mangalyam’ which translates to no-waste weddings, a fine of Rs 10,000 on organisers will be implemented if they do not inform the panchayat of an event which caters to more than 100 guests. Another rule highlights that a marriage certificate will be handed to the groom and bride only when the panchayat has monitored that the green protocol has been followed during the wedding. What’s more, all newly-wed couples and event organisers who comply with the norms will be awarded a memento by the panchayat.
These steps are being taken to make Kerala waste free, speaking to NDTV, District Collector of Kannur District, Mir Mohammed Ali added,
This year, on August 15, we decided to make Kerala free from waste. In a bid to fulfill this, we have asked all the villages, gram panchayats, and blocks to come up with solutions on how that area can reduce waste and go waste free. They have all started submitting the plans that includes what actions they will take in their area if they want to go 100% waste free. We are hopeful that by November 1, at least one waste free plan will take off.
The Green Protocol movement in the state was started back in 2014, but, it is only recently that it has started gaining momentum with many people opting for green and healthy practices in order to conserve the environment and water bodies of Kerala. Apart from Green Weddings, the hotels in the state have stopped the usage of plastic straws and the education board has passed a mandate for students that they will only use fountain pen and not plastic pens. In Kannur district, all hotels have adopted a scheme to reduce disposable plastic usage among people – bring your own tiffin box for takeaways and get extra 10 percent discount on your food bill.
Because of these Swachh initiatives, Kerala today is leading the way and becoming a model state for others to emulate. The state is not only the third Open Defecation Free State, but, also is home to a city which has now become a model for effective waste management without a landfill – Alappuzha.