KOCHI: Suchitwa Mission has declared Link Valley Residents Association near Infopark at Kakkanad as the first Green Protocol 5-star-rated community. The declaration was made at a function on Saturday as part of which a community store was opened by Mr P.T Thomas, MLA. The green protocol initiatives were implemented in the community under the guidance of Suchitwa Mission and Local Self Government Department with the support of Pelican Foundation. “Reducing waste is the best management practice and I appreciate the Link Valley for their initiatives to develop a zero waste community. Suchitwa Mission would like to take up the ‘Link Valley’ model and replicate it across the state. The Mission will extend support to all residents associations in launching similar projects,” said Ms K. Vasuki, executive director, Suchitwa Mission.
District collector Muhammad Y Safirulla had visited Link Valley and reviewed the waste management practices implemented in the area. “The more than 80 families in the community strictly adhere to the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle policy’ and each member in the community has signed a declaration that they won’t bring disposable plastic materials to the community. It has also been decided that no family will use plastic disposables for any event conducted here,” said Mr Binod Hariharan, secretary of the Association.
The manure produced is distributed within the community for organic farming. “Plans are afoot to start organic farming in vacant plots available in the compound,” he added. As part of green initiatives, residents have started buying milk from a dairy farm to avoid milk in plastic pouches. The community store, where only healthy food products are available, will act as a resource point for waste management, farming and other green initiatives.
