Mangaluru : A day-long cleanliness drive at the Kadri Manjunatha Temple and 490 other temples governed by the Muzrai Department in Dakshina Kannada on Sunday begins cleanness drive as per a decision taken by the department.

The drive at the Kadri temple started with J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru South, former Mayor Harinath and other public representatives symbolically sweeping the temple courtyard that was already clean. Students from Sharada Vidyalaya cleaned the area around the temple pond.

Pramila, Assistant Commissioner, Muzrai Department, said the drive was organised to make people aware of the need to keep temples clean. A similar activity was conducted in Bengaluru earlier this month, she said.

The cleaning was done in Mangaladevi temple, Kukke Subrahmanya temple, Soutadka Mahaganapati temple and other A, B and C grade temples in the district.

Ms. Pramila said that since August 2015, activities under the Swachh Mandira initiative, that includes barring the use of plastic carry bags, segregation of dry and wet waste and cleaning temple ponds, are being organised in temples in the district. Action was being taken to install bio-gas plants at some temples and use the plants for cooking, she said. K.G. Jagadeesha, Deputy Commissioner, said the use of plastic bags in temples was minimal. He asked social organisations to come forward and involve themselves in keeping temple areas clean.

Mr. Harinath and president of Manjunatha Temple Committee A.J. Shetty  and other were present.