Rs 62,000 crore to be spent on Swachh Bharat programme

In a bid to promote cleanliness and sanitation in urban areas, the Union Cabinet Wednesday cleared the Swachh Bharat Mission for Urban Areas — a programme that will be implemented over a five-year period in 4,401 towns. It will be launched on Gandhi Jayanti. Of the Rs 62,009 crore likely to be spent on the programme, the Centre will pitch in Rs 14,623 crore.

The mission aims to cover 1.04 crore households, provide 2.5 lakh community toilets, 2.6 lakh public toilets, and a solid waste management facility in each town. Under the programme, community toilets will be built in residential areas where it is difficult to construct individual household toilets. Public toilets will also be constructed in designated locations such as tourist places, markets, bus stations, railway stations, etc.

“The programme includes elimination of open defecation, conversion of unsanitary toilets to pour flush toilets, eradication of manual scavenging, municipal solid waste management and bringing about a behavioural change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices,” Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

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Of the Centre’s share of Rs 14,623 crore, Rs 7,366 crore will be spent on solid waste management, Rs 4,165 crore on individual household toilets, Rs 1,828 crore on public awareness and Rs 655 crore on community toilets.

The mission will also aim at generating awareness among citizens. The Cabinet also approved the restructuring of the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan into the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).