CM writes to students to keep state clean

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Wednesday asked the student community in the state to become part of the government's 'clean Kerala programme.'

In a letter to students of various government and aided schools in the state, the chief minister reminded them of the importance of loving and protecting nature.

This is the first time that a chief minister in the state has written directly to students in an effort to inculcate the love of environment in them.

Addressing the students as 'Dear friends', the chief minister has spoken of "forests, mountains, ponds, streams, fields and backwaters and the Arabian sea which makes Kerala, land of Nature's bounty, a beautiful state and if we have to make it more beautiful, how will it be?," he asked.

"For that we need to do lot of things," Vijayan said in the letter.

Urging children to plant more trees for fresh air and water, he said they should ensure that use of plastics and bottles is decreased.

He also wanted that materials like plastic waste should not be littered as it harms the environment.

Polluted water, if it remains stagnant, will lead to the spread of contagious diseases, Vijayan said in the letter.

He also urged children to use organic manure and grow necessary vegetables for own use to escape from consuming pesticide laden vegetables.

Vijayan also wanted the children to take the lead in cleaning water bodies and protect them for future generations.

They should also ensure that not even a drop of water is wasted, he said in the letter, a copy of which was released to the media.

Asking them to inculcate clean habits and become good citizens of the country, he concluded the letter by inviting the students to become part of the government's endeavour to create a 'Nava Kerala' (New Kerala).

He also wanted them to write to him with their names and school address on their views and suggestions on environment and steps for protecting nature.