Cabinet approves 'Swachh Bharat' programme for urban areas

The union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday gave its approval for a massive program called 'Swachh Bharat' mission for the urban areas.

The plan is proposed to be implemented over five years starting from October 2, 2014 in all 4041 statutory towns.

The total expected cost of the programme over five years is Rs. 62,009 crore, out of which the proposed Central assistance will be of Rs. 14,623 crore.

The programme includes elimination of open defecation, conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets, eradication of manual scavenging, municipal solid waste management, bringing about a behavioural change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices, generating awareness among citizens about sanitation and its linkages with public health, strengthening of urban local bodies to design, execute and operate systems to fulfil these objectives and creating an enabling environment for private sector participation in capital expenditure and operational expenditure.

The programme consists of components for providing, individual household toilets, community and public toilets and municipal solid waste management in all 4041 statutory towns.

It would cover 1.04 crore households, provide 2.5 lakh seats of community toilets proposed in residential areas, 2.6 lakh seats of public toilets to be constructed in designated locations such as tourist places, markets, bus stations, near railway stations and places of public recreation wherever required.

The scheme will be part of a joint 'Swachh Bharat' Mission to be implemented for rural areas by the ministry of drinking water and sanitation and for urban areas by the ministry of urban development.