Star ratings to cities for cleanliness expected soon

The housing and urban affairs ministry is expected to start giving star ratings to cities soon on the basis of cleanliness, in a bid to give a momentum to the Centre's flagship Swachh Bharat Mission, an official release said today.
The concept of star rating for cities was introduced during a recent workshop on Swachh Bharat Mission.
The star ratings would be different from the Swachh Survekshan rankings, an exercise to rank cities for cleanliness, as it would allow multiple cities to be awarded the same star rating, the release said.
"It is expected to be formally introduced by the ministry in the next few weeks," it said.

During the workshop, a guide book for Urban Local Bodies on roles and responsibilities for bulk solid waste generators pertaining to solid waste management rules was also launched.
Besides, an online database to capture data directly from states and cities regarding the progress of cleanliness mission was also launched on the occasion.
This would enhance "the robustness and transparency" in monitoring the mission, the release said.