Maharashtra to make small cities ‘clean’

The state government has decided to make small cities that are selected under the Centre’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, defecation free and clean. The AMRUT grant will be released if the cities are able to maintain its clean status even after six months.

Speaking in the Assembly on Friday, the last day of the fourth week of the budget session, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Swachh Bharat Mission had received a tremendous response in the state. “Maharashtra is the most civilised state and more than 60 per cent population is residing in the city. However, we failed to make sufficient provisions for drinking water, sewage water, disposal of wet and dry waste,” said Mr Fadnavis.

He said, in the AMRUT scheme, 43 cities out of around 200 in Maharashtra have been selected for the grant and these cities cover 70 per cent of the state’s population. “These cities do not earn sufficient revenue from their income tax collections to provide basic facilities to its citizens. But we have received the Centre’s approval to introduce drinking water supply schemes,” said Mr Fadnavis.

The CM further said that the state would surely become defecation free in the upcoming years. Till 31 January 2016, 52 cities have gained the status of being defecation free.