Rawat asks for more grant to hill states for solid waste

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today demanded that the grant to mountainous regions as Viability Gap Funding for solid waste management under 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' be increased from 20 per cent to 60 per cent.
The demand was made by Rawat at a meeting of sub-group of Chief Ministers constituted under 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' at Niti Ayog bhawan in New Delhi, an official release here said.
Rawat also suggested a number of changes in the institutional structure to lend pace to projects under the clean India mission including appointment of a director both at the Centre and state levels to monitor work related to the mission, it said.

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.
With devotees visiting Uttarakhand throughout the year due to location of revered pilgrimage centres, amenities need to be developed under the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' for their convenience in Haridwar, Rishikesh and along the entire chardham yatra route, he said.

Rawat also said that the roles of different departments involved in the mission should be defined and there should be clarity in budgetary allocations for the mission and transparency in utilisation of funds.