COIMBATORE: The Residents' Awareness Association of Coimbatore, a citizens' group, has planned to carry out a mass cleaning programme at the foothills of Marudamalai, near the city on April 4.

The association is already into preparing a detailed plan for waste management and creation of facilities at the pilgrimage centre in view of the World Classical Tamil Conference to be held here from June 23 to 27.

RAAC had submitted proposals for basic amenities at the foothills to the temple authorities and Presidents of the local bodies.

The mass cleaning drive will be a prelude to the larger programme.

Association vice-president R.R. Balasundharam has said that the mass cleaning would be held from 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. at the foothills.

More than 500 students from P.S.G. College of Technology, Sri Krishna College of Arts and Science, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Dr. N.G.P. College of Arts and Science and volunteers from Thirukkovil Baktha Peravai would join the members of the association in the cleaning program.

Garbage and plastic and paper waste around the bus stand, Vandipettai and along the main road would be removed.

Vadavalli Town Panchayat and Somayampalayam Panchayat would provide equipment and vehicles to remove the waste.

Silt and garbage would be removed from the canal in that area in order to facilitate free flow of rain water.

Shops

The shops on either side of the road would be provided with bags to store the waste they generated.

The waste would be collected periodically by the local bodies and also under the Wealth out of Waste programme of ITC Limited.

An appeal would be made to shop keepers to remove the encroachments on the road leading to the temple.

Handbills with guidelines on clean environs would be distributed among the shops.

Courtesy - Hindu