KOCHI: The ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ might be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project. But the Special Protection Group (SPG) has given more significance to his security than the green protocol initiative during the Kochi Metro Rail inauguration where PM is the chief guest.
The outcome: KMRL has directed the event management company to use plastic bottles and paper glass at the Kaloor stadium, launch venue of the Kochi Metro, on Saturday.
“We got a direction from the SPG to avoid steel/glass tumblers inside or on the dais due to security concerns. Since we have no other option, we will be forced to use plastic and paper glass during the function. We have taken steps to use paper glass which will be free from plastic coatings,” said a KMRL officer.
“We’d planned to serve water in steel/glass tumbler to all the guests, including the PM. We had approached the Suchithwa Mission for sufficient number of glasses. But we have scrapped the move,” the officer said. K Vasuki, executive director, Suchitwa Mission, said: “The event management firm had approached us but eventually they dropped the plan. Maybe they are going to use disposables during the function.”
Sreedharan gets his place
T’Puram: “E Sreedharan will be on the dais during the Kochi Metro Rail inauguration. The earlier list proposed by the state government included the names of Chennithala and Sreedharan. Later when the list was revised, the government again approached the PMO seeking to review the decision. Following this, the CMO received the latest communication,” CM Pinarayi Vijayan said in his FB post.