Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat (DKZP) is spearheading an initiative to make all offices under the rural development and panchayat raj (RDPR) department eco-friendly by implementing a green protocol. Nodal officers have been appointed in all RDPR offices to ensure no single-use plastic is used in government offices or during programs.
DKZP CEO Anandh K told TOI that the goal is to make all gram panchayats free from single-use plastic. “We have directives from the government to avoid plastic cups, spoons, plates, and bottles at government programs. We strictly enforce the green protocol during all zilla panchayat programs and internal meetings, avoiding plastic materials. A district-level nodal officer has also been appointed to oversee this,” he said.
Dharmasthala gram panchayat has already been declared a single-use plastic-free village, thanks to an initiative by the forest department and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) is also following the green protocol, avoiding plastic items during programs.
DKZP has directed all gram panchayats to conduct shramadaan (voluntary labor) for cleanliness drives on the first Saturday of every month. These activities aim to ensure village cleanliness and raise awareness against single-use plastic. Challenges remain in semi-urban areas, tourist spots, and towns near national highways, where large numbers of outsiders make enforcement difficult. Out of 223 gram panchayats, nearly 30 face such issues, while the remaining successfully conduct swachhata (cleanliness) drives.