The Hindu Business Line : Plan to make Bangalore a cleaner city unveiled

IN what has been termed as the first of its kind in the country, the Karnataka Government on Tuesday unveiled an initiative to make Bangalore a cleaner and a healthier city.

Unveiling the `Bangalore Declaration', the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr Dharam Singh, said the unique initiative would tackle issues such as health problems and deteriorating quality of environment in Bangalore.

"This concept of healthy cities aims to put health at the centre of the social and political agenda of municipalities and local governments," Mr Singh said while addressing an international conference on building healthy cities organised by the CII.

Mr Singh said a meeting of agencies concerned with the Bangalore Declaration would be called on February 23 to kick-start the programme. He said as part of the Bangalore Declaration, the Government would issue orders to the police department to not to harass those who help accident victims.

"The good samaritans no longer need to fear harassment from the police," Mr Singh said.

The chairman of the CII and the Deputy Managing Director of Toyota-Kirloskar Motor Ltd, Mr K.K. Swamy, said the six initiatives of the Bangalore Declaration include:

Setting up emergency management systems: Under this initiative, certain hospitals will be designated as disaster management hospitals. An early warning and management system for epidemic and public health related situations and support comprehensive trauma consortium would also be part of the initiative.

Safe management of waste: The Government will cover 95 per cent of all medical establishments in the city by 2007 to manage natural, hospital, bio-medical solid and liquid wastes.

Environment and lifestyle improvement initiatives: The Government will encourage private agencies to conduct health camps, identify zones for developing fitness centres and recreation areas, encourage corporates to assist in the management of green areas and initiate steps to adhere to International Labour Organisation protocols on making AIDS mandatory in all work places and in hospitals by 2005-end.

Accreditation of health institutions: The Government will initiate steps to enable registration of all healthcare institutions, hospital facilities, nursing homes and clinics in the city by July 2005.

Citizen's access to health related information: The Government will collate information on health infrastructure in the city to help citizens on making right choices about hospitals.

Encouragement of health research activities: The Government will frame a policy to boost health research by public and private institutions in the city. Mr Swamy said the healthy city initiative entails coordination of efforts of the public, private and voluntary agencies and organisations to tackle urban health under a partnership framework.

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