Corporators plan to sweep ahead to keep Mumbai clean

Mumbai: In a bid to improve Mumbai’s ranking in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, city corporators want to compete against each other for maintaining cleanliness in their areas. They have demanded that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should hold a cleanliness contest among civic wards to make the city clean and beautiful.

Senior Samajwadi corporator Rais Shaikh has tabled a proposal, in which he has asked the BMC to hold a ‘Swachh Mumbai Abhiyan’ in the city on the lines of Centre’s drive.

Mr Shaikh said, “On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Union government has started ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,’ under which cities are honoured with awards for cleanliness. To improve Mumbai’s ranking in the Abhiyan and keep the city clean and beautiful, the BMC should also hold a ‘Swachh Mumbai Abhiyan’ among its 24 administrative wards.”

“The wards which will score most in cleanliness should be awarded with first, second and third prizes. In addition to this, other wards should also be ranked as per their performance. Cleanliness of wards should be evaluated on the basis of garbage segregation and treatment, sewage treatment, open defecation, grey water treatment, drinking water standards and deaths due to water-borne diseases,” he added.

Mr Shaikh’s demand comes in the backdrop of Mumbai’s disappointing performance in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan this year. Mumbai slipped to 29th position in the ‘Swachh Sarvekshan 2017’ from its 10th rank last year.  

“The contest would make civic officials and citizens to undertake various cleanliness initiatives in their wards. There should be some cash incentives for civic conservancy employees because ultimately they would be working on the ground to maintain cleanliness in the city,” said Godfrey Pimenta from the Watchdog Foundation.