A pat on the back, a few questions or a few sharp words were used to shape the agenda at a review meeting of the national programme for Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) in Hyderabad on Monday.
On the occasion, Akshay Rout, Director-General, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, presented a status report of the programme, which is focussed on niche areas to ensure a better performance in the cleanliness index, and also announced the expansion of the programme to 10 other places, including Raghavendra Swamy Mutt at Mantralayam in Andhra Pradesh. This takes the SIP count to 30.
“This programme is aimed at having a distinctly higher level of sanitation. It also focusses on improving cleanliness in peripheral and approach areas,” said Mr. Rout, adding: “We have not delivered to the extent possible. The challenges to sanitation in the country include an absence of laws to ensure it.”
There was some out-of-the-box thinking on show with officials showing their success with RFID tagged ponies at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, underground garbage bins in Madurai, Swachh Police, Clean Up Marshals at CSTM, Mumbai, and cattle catchers at Taj Mahal in Agra.
Hyderabad civic officials showcased the success with the ongoing pedestrianisation project around Charminar, an SIP. “The major task of turning Charminar into a pedestrian zone has been completed as we completely pedestrianised all the four roads around Charminar. The area is completely sealed for vehicle movement except for emergency vehicles. We are happy that National Thermal Power Corporation has come forward to take up parts of the programme including battery operated vehicles for movement of visitors and other infrastructure elements,” said Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Additional Commissioner Musharraf Ali Farooqi, making a presentation for the Union ministry officials.
The officials of Varanasi faced withering criticism from Mr. Rout as the presentation on Manikarnika Ghat showed little progress over the past few months. “This is how projects don’t work. If nothing much has to be done, why involve a PSU for the CSR?” said Mr. Rout pulling up the official.
