by Violet Pereira, Team Mangalorean
Mangaluru: The Mayor of MCC Harinath held a press meet in his chamber, MCC Lalbagh here on March 15.
Addressing the mediapersons mayor Harinath said that the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) aims at making India free from open defecation and achieve 100 % collection and scientific processing/ disposal of the municipal solid waste in 4041 towns / cities of the country by 2nd October 2019.
He further said that the “Swachh Survekshan” was launched in January 2016 to assess the sanitation and solid waste management status in ‘73 major cities in India, including 53 cities with a population of above 1 million each and the State capitals. This was the first survey since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission in October 2014. The Quality council of India (QCI) conducted the survey between 5 to 26 January 2016 on behalf of the MoUD. Based on the findings of the Survekshan, Cities were ranked on various parameters in areas of cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene. The assessment revealed that the cities are at very different levels in terms of progress made under SBM. Municipalities such as Mysuru, Chandigarh and Tiruchirappalli are leaders in the area of sanitation, health and hygiene.
He also said that the earlier survey of second sanitation rating conducted during 2013-2015 has resulted in the ranking of the 476 cities in line with the National Urban Sanitation Policy 2008. When the survey was done in 2011, Mangaluru was in 7th place. Later in 2013-14Mangaluru was in 11th place. The rating measured the sanitation performance of cities on 19 indicators inter—alia included physical infrastructure. systems, processes and outcomes etc.
When asked about banning plastic. Mayor Harinath said that discussions will be held to ban plastic and make the district plastic free.
MCC commissioner Dr Gopalkrishna said that out of the 339 individual households that did not having toilets 272 have been sanctioned. Some people do not have their own houses to build toilets. At present work for 201 toilets is in progress and 71 toilets are ready. The state governments will pay Rs 1333 for the minimum component and the union government will pay Rs 4000. We are also planning to build 10 community toilets for which four locations have been identified at Kudroli, Attavar near KEB, Hoige Bazar ward and Dongarakeri. Five community toilets will be built in first phase.
Deputy Mayor Sumitra, former Mayor Sashidhar Hegde, former deputy mayor Purushotham Chitrapur and others were also present.