A team of experts from central government is arriving on two day visit to the summer capital on 24 January to undertake cleanliness survey 2018 as part of Swachh Bharat Mission.
Addressing a press conference here, commissioner SMC Riyaz Ahmad Wani said the team would survey measures taken by SMC under Survekshan (survey) 2018.
“Such teams have visited different cities across India which participated in this survey. Later, the city is ranked as per their achievements in cleanliness,” he said.
Wani was flanked by SMC joint commissioner Syed Abul Qasim and chief enforcement officer Muhammad Akbar Sofi. The commissioner said that the survey attempts to capture the progress in six broad parameters, including collection and transportation of municipal solid waste, sanitation related progress. “The team will see whether we have started campaigns promoting Swachh Survekshan, engaged citizens in waste management, maintained community and public toilets,” he said.
He added that SMC had taken various initiatives in an effort to make the city clean.
“Every city will be given points out of 4000 marks. The biggest source of obtaining points is having public participation. We appeal public to appreciate measures taken by SMC during past one year,” he said.
He informed that a team could ask public questions like do they have dust bins and do they see any difference (improvement) in sanitation as compared to past year?
“By positive response from the public, the Srinagar city can obtain upto 1200 points. Rest, we are prepared as we have taken lot of measures. We are optimistic that we will secure good marks to make it to top ten ranking list this year,” he added.
He said that in 2017, out of 434 cities across India, Srinagar appeared at serial number 244 in ranking.
He said that SMC has performed well on all components of Swachh Bharat Mission including open defecation free (ODF), solid waste management, information, education and Communication (IEC) and capacity building.
Giving details, he said that SMC received at least 19193 applications out of which 4043 has been verified and approved. And out of these approved applications, more than 500 individual household latrines have been constructed.
He added that for waste segregation, SMC has to provide twin colored bins for biodegradable and blue for non-biodegradable waste material to two lakh households. In this regard above 40000 twin bins has been distributed to the households across the city.
“There are many more measures and initiatives we have taken. We appeal people to give positive feedback to teams to make Srinagar city to appear on top of the ranking list,” Wani added.