Urban Development Ministry commissions sanitation survey across 75 major cities

The Union Ministry of Urban Development has commissioned a survey across 75 major cities to assess their overall sanitation situation along the lines of the Swachh Bharat Mission’s objectives. Solid waste management has been given highest weightage, followed by household toilets and community toilets. This is the first survey to be conducted since the mission launch and is expected to be completed by January 2016. 

 

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has decided to make it compulsory for small apartment complexes with five or more houses to install a mini sewage treatment plant (STP) with an aim to improve water re-use. The BWSSB found itself in a tight spot recently over severe pollution and lake frothing incidents in Bellandur and Varthur within city limits. Residents however, are now up in arms contending that STPs for small complexes may not be the most viable option around. 

 

High particulate matter found in Agra’s air is found to be the one of the major threats to the famed 17th century marble mausoleum, the Taj Mahal. Researchers at the University of Minnesota and Georgia Institute of Technology have zeroed in on the open burning of municipal garbage as the one of the major sources of particulate matter populating the city’s atmosphere. It was found that the amount of waste burned in Agra is almost 12 times more than in the National Capital located close by.

 

Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja celebrations have taken a toll on Gurgaon’s Damdama Lake, Haryana’s biggest lake and natural reservoir. Ganesh idols and puja decorations from over a month have been found in the lake along with the recent Durga Puja additions. The authorities, however, had not imposed any kind of restrictions on the immersion of idols in the lake and hope to manage the scene better next year. 

 

The Corporation of Chennai is contemplating privatizing conservancy operations in newly added neighbourhoods of the expanded city. Currently, some of the localities already have a private agency managing waste collection and transportation in the city. The Corporations plans to make the city bin-less in a few years where all the garbage will be collected door-to-door on a regular basis. 

 

Telangana aims to augment water supply and sewerage facilities of 11 cities under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) at the cost of Rs 405.17 crore during the current financial year. The water supply in the state’s AMRUT cities is currently below the standard norm of 135 liters per capita per day. The State Annual Action Plan in this regard has been submitted for the Union Urban Development Ministry’s perusal.