After the state failed to impress in the recently released Swachh Survekshan Survey, the Manohar lal Khattar Government is now keen to adopt more proactive approach towards the cleanliness mission.
The tall claims made by the State Government regarding achieving cleanliness standards, had fallen flat, when not even a single city of Haryana figured among the first 50 cleanliness cities of the country.
Following state’s poor performance in Swachh Survekshan Survey, the Chief Minister on Tuesday issued directions to focus on organizing cleanliness campaigns in the state. The issue was discussed during the routine informal cabinet meeting chaired by Manohar lal here.
During the meeting, the State Government decided to launch special cleanliness drives, both in cities and villages, besides engaging social and non-government organizations to initiate cleanliness campaigns in Haryana.
The Chief Minister’s own city, Karnal had secured 65th rank in the Swachh Survekshan 2017 (Swachh Bharat survey 2017) that was conducted in 434 cities and towns of the country. Haryana’s Millennium city, Gurugram and industrial hub, Faridabad had also failed to impress in terms of cleanliness and were ranked 112th and 88th respectively in the list.
The state’s dismal performance could be gauged from the fact that Gurugram was ranked at 36th position and Faridabad at 51st position in the survey which was conducted in 73 cities of the country in 2016.
Interestingly, both Faridabad and Karnal have been included in the Centre’s smart city mission.
While the first BJP Government in Haryana has completed its half term, it seems to be struggling to achieve the desired targets under ‘Swachh Haryana, Swachh Bharat’ campaign.
In line with Centre’s project ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, Haryana Government had launched ‘Swachh Haryana, Swachh Bharat’ campaign in the year 2014 to achieve total sanitation by October 2, 2019. The State Government had also chalked out an action plan and a 20 point programme for the success of ‘Swachh Haryana, Swachh Bharat’ campaign.
However, various cleanliness campaigns and sanitation programmes have so far failed in its intended goals due to planning weaknesses and ineffective implementation in the State.
Showing the poor progress under the cleanliness campaign, the government statistics says, 24,986 individual household toilets have so far been built in Haryana, out of the target of 1,06,373. Apart from this, 1,679 community and public toilets out of the target of 10,394 have been constructed in the state. Out of the total 1,449 urban wards in the state, 412 wards have reported 100 per cent door-to-door collection of municipal solid waste.
Haryana Agriculture Minister, Om Prakash Dhankar, while talking to the mediapersons after the informal cabinet meeting on Tuesday said that the State Government will launch a special cleanliness drive.
Swachhta Divas would be observed to mark the ‘World Environment Day’ on June 5 in Haryana, he said, adding that the cleanliness campaign will be launched in 125 mahagrams having a population of more than 10,000 each.
Dhankar said that the Ministers, public representatives, chairmen of boards and corporations would also take part in various such campaigns alongwith the public. Besides, the State Government would seek cooperation of social and non-government organizations to conduct cleanliness campaigns in Haryana, he said.
The Rural Development Department has prepared a special plan under which cooperation of social and non-government organizations would be sought, he added.
Apart from various initiatives to be launched by the State Government, the ruling BJP would also swung into action to undertake cleanliness drives in Haryana. Eyeing to connect with the people of the state ahead of 2019 polls, the party has chalked out a schedule to carry out such drives every month and to depute Ministers and MlAs for the initiative.
The party will launch Mera Gaon, Swachh Gaon campaign besides organising a series of events from May to October in the State.