Cities Prioritize Sanitation, Mechanized Desludging, and Used Water Management

The campaign includes a 5-week initiative to clean and maintain all public and community toilets.

Additionally, the Clean Toilets Challenge has been introduced to recognize model public toilets that demonstrate cleanliness, accessibility, innovative design, and functionality.

In order to further promote sanitation, mechanised desludging, and used water management in cities, a 2-day national capacity building workshop will be held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on November 23rd and 24th, 2023. This workshop, organized under SBM-U 2.0, aims to discuss planning and implementation strategies.

The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched in 2014, has brought about significant improvements in sanitation practices worldwide. SBM-U 2.0 focuses on accelerating sanitation, mechanised desludging, and used water management in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It emphasizes the need for innovation, governance, and the adoption of a circular economy approach by small towns to ensure effective management.

Several small cities, such as Panchgani, Patan, and Karhad, have set examples in sanitation and waste management. For instance, Panchgani has implemented waste segregation with the help of Swachhagrahis and transformed the Kachra Point into a beautiful hill station, demonstrating a holistic approach to cleanliness.

Under SBM-Urban 2.0, a new component has been introduced to achieve complete liquid waste management in cities with a population of less than 1 lakh. This component ensures the safe containment, collection, transportation, and treatment of all wastewater to prevent water pollution.

Cities like Surat have successfully converted wastewater into a valuable resource by establishing Tertiary Treatment Plants, reducing their reliance on fresh water resources. Tiruchirappalli works with private desludging operators who are available at all times. The city has also set up decanting arrangements in sewage pumping stations for the disposal of faecal sludge and septage collected by these operators.

The 2-day National Capacity Building Workshop organized by MoHUA focused on strengthening the sanitation sector. It targeted senior leadership from state governments, including State Mission Directors, nodal officers, chief engineers, and senior engineers responsible for sanitation, mechanised desludging, and used water management implementation in these cities.

The first day of the workshop included experience sharing on the operation and maintenance of Community and Public Toilets (CT/PTs) by the Greater Chennai City Corporation.

There were also discussions on financing in the sanitation sector and livelihood opportunities in the sanitation sector. Various organizations and agencies highlighted the accessibility and operation and maintenance of CT/PTs.

The second session of the day focused on mechanised desludging and covered topics such as the Safaimitra Surakshit Sahar initiative, operationalizing SRA and ERSU, promoting safety for sanitation workers, and expectations and business models from the private sector.

Roopa Mishra, JS, MoHUA, provided insights on the Toilet Journey under SBM 2.0 from a national perspective.

Speaking at the event, JS, MoHUA emphasized the importance of moving beyond the limitations of specific programs and striving for safe sanitation, defined by clean land, clean water, and clean air.