Bhopal to be declared ODF by year end

Bhopal to be ODF ahead of schedule

With the Madhya Pradesh government keen on declaring the entire state open defecation free (ODF) by 2017, officials are confident of declaring the state capital ODF by the end of this year, before the next Swachh Survekshan gets underway in 2017. People defecating out in the open will be spotted and stopped by volunteers under the roko-toko abhiyan to discourage soiling of public places. Bhopal was ranked 21st among 75 best performing cities and towns in the Swachh Survekshan 2016. The next survey is expected to be initiated in January 2017 where 500 cities will be ranked based on sanitation and cleanliness indices. 

East Delhi municipal corporation initiates ‘smart colonies’ sanitation drive

In a bid to transform its colonies into ‘perfect neighbourhoods’, the East Delhi municipal corporation has launched the ‘smart colonies’ drive to improve cleanliness and sanitation services. The move aims at instilling an improved sense of civic responsibility among citizens. As part of the initiative, dust-bins have been distributed to local shopkeepers and tipper lorries have been instructed to pick up garbage from the area twice a day. East Delhi neighbourhoods of Preet Vihar and Dilshad Garden were the first to be included in the priority move. 

Kozhikode corporation to construct 10 community toilets  

With the Kozhikode corporation limits being declared an open defecation free zone, the civic body has decided to initiate the construction of 10 community toilets across city slums. In addition, the corporation has also initiated the construction of public toilets across the city with funding support from private institutions. According to a 2015 survey, 1503 houses in the city either lacked individual household toilets or had dilapidated ones. The corporation had completed the construction of nearly 1400 toilets at a cost of Rs 2.31 crore in a bid to make the city open defecation free. 

Varanasi villagers unhappy with the fibre-reinforced toilets

Two severe problems have been plaguing villagers in Nageypur, the adopted village of prime minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi. Open defecation and clogging of household sullage lines continue to irk residents as less than 200 houses have individual household toilets despite efforts of the state government and the prime minister’s office to construct fibre-reinforced plastic latrines. Extreme heat conditions have rendered the toilets useless as they tend to burn like ovens, increasing the putrid smell emanating from inside. The villagers have since sent a petition to the PMO regarding the issue. 

Delhi Metro runs Swachh Bharat theme train

The Delhi Metro ran a special Swachh Bharat theme train to raise awareness about the importance of cleanliness and good sanitation practices. The six-coach train donning colourful festivity and swachhta-themed exteriors ran between ITO and Escorts Mujesar. Slogans chosen from the Swachh Metro campaign’s online slogan-writing competition decorated the exteriors.  

This is a roundup of important sanitation related news published between October 22 to 28, 2016. 

Lead image courtesy: Elets News