Udupi: A workshop was held for NGOs and local representatives from various associations at Udupi. Speaking on occasion, Zilla Panchayat deputy secretary Srinivas Rao said that, although Udupi has been acclaimed as being open defecation-free, Udupi district is unable to achieve the tag of clean district.

The Quality Control of India grades the district at seventh place in terms of cleanliness. The administration, however, aims to reach greater heights in the ranking, as a result of which, extensive measures are taken to create awareness. The government has banned the use of plastic. In spite of the ban on the use of polythene bags, there has been no success in complete eradication of the use of plastic.

He said one day in a week is earmarked exclusively to create awareness as part of the innovative programme initiated under Swacch Udupi Swastha Udupi. The awareness programme concentrates on curtailing the use of plastic during celebrations. The most important aspect is the segregation of wet, hazardous and solid waste at the source-level. The dry waste can be recycled and reused. The use of cloth bags will be promoted. Pipe compost would be encouraged as it would help producing organic fertiliser using wet waste.