Rawat asks for more grant to hill states for solid waste management

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday demanded that grant to mountainous regions as Viability Gap Funding for solid waste management under  the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ be increased to 60 per cent from the existing 20 per cent.

Rawat said this at a meeting of sub-group of Chief Ministers constituted under ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ at Niti Ayog <g data-gr-id="27">bhawan</g> in the <g data-gr-id="28">natuinal</g> Capital.

Rawat suggested a number of changes in the institutional structure to lend a pace to projects under the clean India mission, including  the appointment of a director both at the Centre and state levels to monitor work related to the mission. He also suggested that the District Magistrates should be made mission directors at the district level.

The Chief Minister demanded revision of the amount given for construction of community toilets in hilly areas from Rs 65 thousand per unit to Rs 1.20 lakh per unit and rehabilitation of ragpickers by associating them with the process of solid waste management through their registration with local institutions.

Rawat added: “Garbage collectors should be given an opportunity to live with dignity and become a part of <g data-gr-id="31">national</g> mission for cleaning India. To rehabilitate these workers and creating employment opportunities for them, sanitation trade should be introduced in ITI.”

He said more public conveniences should be set up in Uttarakhand as the hill state houses several pilgrim spots.  Rawat added that his government aimed to make Chamoli and Bageshwar free from open defecation by 2016-17.