HYDERABAD: Suryapet is set to be declared as one of the ten ‘cleanest cities’ in the country.
Union minister for urban development M Venkaiah Naidu will formally declare the City Sanitation Ranking Survey ‘Swachh Survekshan 2017’ in New Delhi on May 4. The survey was aimed at promoting competition among the cities.
Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) joint secretary and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) mission director Praveen Prakash, in a communique, informed Suryapet municipal commissioner V Surender that the city would be felicitated during the ceremony on Thursday. He invited Surender, along with the mayor, to attend the event in person on behalf of Suryapet city.
MoUD invites officials and mayors of 10 cities, of whom three receive citation and awards. The representatives of the remaining seven cities also received awards under different categories. The invitation to attend the function confirms that Suryapet is among the top contenders.
The competition under Swachh Sarvekshan-2017 is tough this year as 500 cities and towns with a population of one lakh and above are vying for the top honours. Last year, only 73 cities with a population of 10 lakh and above were surveyed.
The final ranking of 500 cities will be announced at the event or a day early.
A three-member team from Quality Council of India (QCI) visited the cities in January to judge the cities on the basis of data provided by municipal bodies which carries 900 marks. It includes sweeping, collection and transportation (360), processing and disposal (180), public and community toilets (135), individual toilets (135), strategy for being Open Defecation Free (ODF) and Solid Waste Management (SWM) (45) Importer Exporter Code (IEC)/behaviour change communication (45) bringing the total to 900 marks. The data collected through direct observations and independent assessment (500 marks) and the citizen feedback (600 marks).Hyderabad is unlikely to finish in the top ten. This is contrary to mayor Rammohan claims over a few months.