The public audit of Mysuru’s status as a clean city and the initiatives taken by local authorities to handle solid waste has commenced for the revised ranking of cities under the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan launched by the Union government.
A team from the Quality Council of India is in Mysuru since the last few days and is verifying the documents and records of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) pertaining to the initiatives on solid waste management, sanitation, etc.
While one team is at the MCC studying the records, the other members of the Quality Council have fanned themselves out across the city to elicit public opinion as also conduct location survey.
Mysuru tops
Mysuru was ranked the cleanest city in the country in the last year’s exercise.
“They have visited the bulk generators of solid waste like the zoo, railway station, bus stands and choultries,” said MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath. They have also visited public toilets, planned colonies, unplanned colonies in revenue layouts and slums to assess the sanitary conditions in the city. The team visited Kuvempunagar and Gowrishankar Nagar, apart from places of tourist interest to check for garbage management.
The team has been equipped with gadgets to elicit public opinion and upload the same to the main server, apart from taking photographs of the locations being surveyed. “The photographs are uploaded from the spot to ensure transparency in the survey,” said Mr. Betsurmath.
The QCI has been commissioned by the Union Ministry of Urban Development, to review the sanitation and hygiene conditions in 75 major cities for the revised rankings.
Weightage
The government has modified the weightage for the revised exercise and 1,000 marks has been allotted to initiatives of local bodies, while 500 marks will be for spot visits and an additional 500 marks is for public feedback.
The QCI will collect data, interact with local municipal authorities, make direct observations and elicit public feedback through an IVRS questionnaire.
Toll-free number
The government has established a toll-free number for the public to participate in the survey and they can participate in it by giving a missed call to 1800 267 2777. The toll free number will be active till January 15. The final results of all 75 major cities, apart from the State capitals, will be announced on the government website on January 25.
Photographs are uploaded from the spot to ensure transparency in the survey
C.G. Betsurmath
MCC Commissioner
