A task force to keep cities sparkling on the cards

“After making changes in the draft in accordance to the suggestions,the urban sanitation policy would be given a final shape within the next 15 days. Then it will be sent for the state government’s approval,” said Alok Ranjan,Principal Secretary of the department. The task force will make rules and formulate plans regarding safe sanitary arrangements at the unit level,he added.

According to the draft policy,a task force will make designs and systems for safe collection of waste and set norms for its transport,treatment and final disposal. Each force would be headed by the Mayor or chairperson of the urban local body (ULB) while the executive head (for instance: municipal commissioner) would be its convener.

Its other members would include representatives from traders,major institutions in the city (for instance: cantonment board,housing board,development authority and enterprises of the Central government),NGOs working on health,water and sanitation,union safai workers,educational and cultural institutions and some of the elected members of the ULB.

The task force would appoint the ULB to implement the city sanitation plan that is also under preparation for some selected cities. The ULB will involve NGOs in examining the existing laws and rules in this regard and make recommendations to the force.

The goals of the policy are to generate awareness about sanitation,its links with public and environment health,and to encourage behavioral changes for the adoption of healthy practices. The draft policy also promotes recycle and reuse of treated water.

The draft has provisions regarding extending access to proper sanitation facilities for poor communities,100 per cent safe disposal of human excreta and liquid waste from all sanitation. It promotes community-planned toilets for group of household with adequate availability and 100 per cent up-keep of public sanitation facility.

The department has also taken a view of various schemes being run by the Centre,from which financial and technical assistance could be taken to achieve the goals of the state sanitation policy.