Udupi : Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner, said on Wednesday that the Swachh Udupi Mission to make Udupi a garbage-free district would be launched here on August 15.

She was speaking as the chief guest at a function held to release the book ‘Swachh Udupi – Swasthya Udupi’ (Clean Udupi, Healthy Udupi) at the District Offices Complex Auditorium, here.

Ms. Francis said that the members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) had received training in scientific management of solid and liquid waste from C. Srinivasan, Project Director, Indian Green Service, Vellore, for the last six days. “They should now become soldiers in the Swachh Udupi Mission. They should work sincerely in this drive” she said.

A two-day training for the members of SHGs would be held from August 5. Then they would have to go and work in their respective villages and towns.

All efforts would be made to see that all villages in the Udupi district attained their goal of becoming garbage free by August 15, 2018, Ms. Francis said.

Releasing the book, Dinakar Babu, president, zilla panchayat, said that the process of making Udupi a garbage-free district should begin from the homes of people. It was essential that both the rural and urban local bodies gave priority to keeping the district clean by disposing liquid and solid waste in a scientific manner.

Training had already been provided to members and staff of the urban and local bodies and SHGs on this matter. It was incumbent upon the elected representatives also to help in the drive to make Udupi a garbage-free district, he said.

Sheela K. Shetty, vice-president of zilla panchayat; Srinivas Rao, CPO, zilla panchayat; and Laxmikanth, District Environment Officer, were present.