In an attempt to fetch better ranking this year in the Swacchta Sarvekshan 2017, the civic body of Capital Ranchi had adopted concepts like modular toilets, creating mass awareness through social media, roping in some new agency to manage solid waste disposal. But despite all these measures, Ranchi could get only 117th rank in the sanitation challenge 2017.
Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), in the survey has slipped from its previous ranking when in 2016 the civic body had got 63rd rank, where the city just had to compete with 100 odd cities across the nation.
Starting the blame game, Mayor Ashalakra added, “The new company that was given the charge of managing the solid waste disposal while making proper transfer stations for segregation of waste material had utterly failed to deliver its duties. Even the status of open defecation need to be improved as it is one major parameter to judge any municipal corporation besides assuring the other basic amenities. Soon a review meeting regarding this will be conducted to brainstorm on the current ranking issue.”
According to the survey report unveiled by the Ministry of Urban Development on Thursday, Ranchi got 117th position. Chas (Bokaro) has been placed at 41, Jamshedpur at 64, Giridh at 81, Hazaribagh at 91 followed by Deogarh (102), Dhanbad (109), Mango (131) and Adityapur (Jamshedpur) got 144 spot in the survey.
Ironically, Dhanbad district, the coal capital of India was placed in bottom in the last survey and the State capital has been ranked below Dhanbad itself this time around.
Notably, none of the civic body officials here seemed to be worried about the ranking and merely said that attempts will be made in future to improve the ranking. The Mayor who had earlier claimed to get rank within top 20 slots, further added, “We are trying to improve the facilities at every front. From failure only, we can learn and further strive for excellence. This ranking is an eye-opener and now we have to make strategies before implementing plans.”
Similarly, the Deputy Mayor retaliated saying that the survey results have been manipulated and it is not at all satisfactory. “It is simply impossible that we are lagging behind the districts like Giridih, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad including Chas Block. Ranchi is far better than several districts in terms of cleanliness. I was expecting Ranchi in the top slot at least in State wise ranking. This is shocking,” SanjivVijyayawargia added.
Notably, the Municipal Corporation had issued a Swacchta Sarvekshan 2017 Guideline, Swacchta Sarvekshan 2017 self-assessment tool, Swacchta App to monitor and supervise the workers including Swacch Residence Welfare Association concept for improving the last year record. The SwacchtaSarvekshan 2017 survey was done by the agencies, recruited by Quality Council of India (QCI).
The assessment was done out of 2000 points. Three important sub sections have been chalked out for the project. For urban local body (UlB) 900 points were given whereas 600 points was given after receiving the feedback for public while 500 is for direct observers who had monitored the procedure and kept a track of work progress.