19 cities now free of open defecation

Nineteen cities across the state achieved open-defecation-free status during the first phase of the ‘Swachh Maharashtra’ mission, and an additional 36 cities have set a target of reaching the status by December 31.

The Maharashtra government has adopted ‘Swachh Maharashtra Abhiyan’ along the lines of ‘Swachh Bharat,’ and set a target to make the state open-defecation-free by the year 2018.

“Maharashtra has always been a pioneering state for practising Swachhata. Sant Gadgebaba Swachhata Abhiyan gained a huge success in the state. The state has received many national-level awards under Nirmal Gram Yojana,” said a senior official from the urban development department. “The ‘Swachhtechi Saptapdi’ initiative for urban cleanliness in the state has given further impetus to the mission led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis,” said the official.

In the first stage, a total of 19 cities fulfilled the pledge by taking several initiatives for cleanliness, achieving it by October 2. “The initiatives taken by these cities proved to be their first step towards transforming the state clean and open-defecation-free by the year 2018,” said the official.

In the second phase, an additional 36 cities aim to become open-defecation-free and 49 cities aim to achieve the target by March 31 next year. Mr Fadnavis initiated the ‘Swachhtechi Saptapadi’ programme a few months ago. He explained that the programme meant ‘seven steps to cleanliness’ which are extensive public participation, 100 per cent use of toilets, waste collection and classification, transport, scientific processing of wastes, processing of drainage water and creation of Green Maharashtra. The official from the urban development department said awareness about sanitation is essential and before getting Smart, the cities should become clean.

Meanwhile, deputy president of Malkapur municipal council Manohar Shinde said, “Malkapur in Karad tehsil of Satara became open-defecation-free in the first phase. It has a population around 44,000 and they provide 24*7 water supply through metered system.”