UP Govt to hold cleanliness competition for Swachchhata

In order to promote competition among districts over ‘Swacchatta Mission’, the State Government has announced to start a cleanliness competition among districts to know which was the cleanest in the State.

“A state-level survey for cleanliness drive will create competition among urban local bodies and this will help to keep the spirit of cleanliness alive. The survey will be done just before the national survey in November-December, 2018,” Urban Development Minister Suresh Khanna said in Lucknow on Monday.

The State had fared poorly and was on the bottom of national Swacchatta Mission survey, the result of which were declared last month. Except Varanasi, no city in the State was in the top 100.

“We can perform better in the Swacchatta Survey by making cities clean but effort was required from officials, social organisations and the people for making their cities clean and beautiful,” Khanna said.

The Minister also announced that all houses in urban local bodies would be numbered so that it would be easy to collect revenue.

There will be an increase in the revenue which in turn would help in meeting the expenses of cleanness drive in their areas.

“The Government has already asked urban local bodies to set up committees of social organisations to carry out cleanness drive in their area. They have also been asked to appoint a nodal officer in each ward to monitor cleanness,” Khanna said adding that the government would fete two such committees in each district for their performance.

The Minister also exhorted officials to gear up to meet the challenge and make the entire state ODF by October 2 next.

“We have got three months time and we should meet the target,” he stressed. Khanna also said that the government has decided to construct shelter houses for stray animals. He also asked officials to monitor rain water harvesting schemes. “Make use of the monsoon and plant trees in a big way,” he advised.