Delhi gears up for ‘Swachchh Bharat Mission’

Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu takes stock of preparations for launch of Mission 30 organizations/agencies present Action Plans for campaign in Delhi Shri Naidu emphasizes on awareness programmes to ensure people’s participation A ‘Cleanliness Pledge’ likely

Minister of Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu today (18.09.2014) urged the Delhi Government and all other concerned agencies to ensure that every household and every resident of the National Capital Region (NCR) take part in the ‘Swachchh Bharat Mission’ proposed to be launched on 2nd October, 2014 across the country. He said that this campaign needs to be promoted as a people’s movement given the importance of cleanliness and sanitation for better quality living and working environment. Shri Naidu discussed various aspects of the Mission to be undertaken in Delhi with 30 stakeholder organizations and agencies at an hour long meeting here today. The meeting was attended by the Secretaries of Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Information & Broadcasting besides Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority and others. Shri Venkaiah Naidu urged the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Government of NCT of Delhi to undertake cost effective ‘mass awareness campaigns’ to promote people’s participation in Swatchchh Bharat Abhiyan with the objective of motivating every citizen to dedicate at least two hours for cleanliness activity every week. This is in pursuance of Prime Minister’s call that every countryman should give 100 hours in an year for cleanliness activities. He underscored that every resident, household, neighbourhood, market and trade organizations would be involved in the effort to ensure cleanliness and sanitation. The Minister said that an intensive campaign would be taken up during 2 – 23, October, 2014 to sensitize and motivate people with the objective of sustaining the same till October, 2019. The Minister urged all departments and agencies to undertake preparatory and awareness generation activities during September 25 – October 2, 2014 so as to be in full gear for undertaking the cleanliness campaign from October 2, 2014. Shri Naidu suggested that administering a ‘Cleanliness Pledge’ on a specific day by all the government employees and people participating in mass cleanliness campaigns could be considered so as to keep focus on the importance of a clean and green environment. The Government of NCT of Delhi and all other agencies presented the preparatory actions taken by them. Shri Spolia, Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi informed that a 45 mld (Million Liter per Day) capacity Sewage Treatment Plant with first diversion sewer under ‘Clean Yamuna’ programme will be launched at Pappan Kalan on October 2, 2014. To start with 10 Clean Water RO System ATMs will be launched on that day and this number will be increased to 500 in one year, he said. On the issue of the problem of inadequate availability of parking places in the National Capital, Shri Venkaiah asked Union Urban Development Secretary to hold a meeting with representatives of Delhi Government, Delhi Police and others at the earliest to evolve short term and long term solutions. Regarding defacement of public properties, Shri Naidu said he would write to all political parties to ensure that posters, pamphlets etc., are not posted on public properties. He will also write to all the union ministers to streamline maintenance of work places through proper space management so that public areas are properly maintained by CPWD. Shri Naidu will also write to all the Chief Ministers on the preparatory measures to be taken up for the launch of the Mission. Secretary (Urban Development), Government of India will take up with the Resident Commissioners of states/UTs located in Delhi the issue of ensuring clean and green environment at their premises. DDA has informed that as part of the cleanliness drive, it would undertake construction of public conveniences in 107 of the 550 parks. DDA agreed to do so in all the parks at the behest Shri Venkaiah Naidu. DDA would also undertake electrification in 250 parks besides providing high mast lights in another 100 parks. Solar Panels would be installed at sports complexes in addition to solar lighting in Biodiversity Parks and illuminating historical monuments. The meeting was also attended by the representatives of Ministry of Railways, different departments of Delhi Government including Urban Development, Power, Health & Family Welfare, Education, Transport, Irrigation & Flood Control, Delhi Police, National Highway Authority of India, chief executives of NDMC and three Municipal Corporations of Delhi, Delhi Cantonment Board, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, CPWD, Archeological Survey of India, Power Distribution Companies, National Cadet Corps (NCC), and National Social Service (NSS). Courtesy: pib.nic.in