75 major cities to be rated for cleanliness

The Centre will conduct a survey of 75 cities in the country, especially those with a population over 10 lakh, to ascertain the sanitation scenario and subsequently rate them. The survey, commissioned by the Urban Development Ministry, is the first such since PM Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharat Mission in October 2014 and aligns with its objectives.

Apart from New Delhi and state capitals, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Gurgaon, Kochi, Nagpur, Amritsar, Allahabad are among the 75 cities, which account for over 50 per cent of the country’s total urban population, to be rated for its cleanliness.

The survey parameters have been aligned with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission with more focus on solid waste management, which is adversely impacting cleanliness in urban areas, as per the directions of Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

The proposed survey and subsequent ratings, to be completed in January next year, is aimed at fostering a spirit of competition among the cities to ensure sanitation in urban areas, said a senior official.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and negotiators of BASIC countries, including Brazil, South-Africa, India and China, held a high-level meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli at a Climate meet in Beijing on Friday.