Mysuru first city with 1 million people to be free of open defecation

MYSURU: Here's another feather in Mysuru's cap: it has been declared the first Indian city with a population of one million or more to be declared free of open defecation. 

Mysuru City Corpora tion authorities will receive the award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Swachh Bharat Saptah programme in New Delhi on September 30. They will receive a certificate from officers of the Union ministry of urban de velopment at an event in Mysuru on September 27. 

The laurel comes two years after Mysuru was declared the cleanest city in India; it retained the position for the second successive year. The status of India's first open defecationfree (ODF) city was granted after a survey of 73 cities by the Quality Council of India (QCI). The survey , commissioned by the ministry of urban development, checked the efforts of local bodies to ensure cities were free of open defecation. 

The first-of-its-kind survey , called `Swachh Survekshan, looked at the cities' level of cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene. 

Mayor BL Byrappa said QCI had a tough task deciding between Mysuru and Vijayawada. "But finally we scored over them.We are not aware what exactly favoured us," he added. Nearly 99% of households in Mysuru have toilets, Byrappa said, and the civic body is receiving applications for aid to build more. He claimed that every house in the city's 28 slums has a toilet. MCC commissioner G Jagadeesha said the city has about 50 public toilets, and tenders have been floated for constructing more. The QCI verified claims by commissioners, corporators, schools and self-help groups.

 It looked at the construction of public toilets, action plan for construction of toilets, and campaigns to educate masses about the Swachh Bharat Mission. The views of residents were taken into consideration.   

Source:TimesOfIndia

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