Survey on sanitation and hygiene : Imphal listed among 75 cities
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 31 2015 : The Quality Council of India (QCI) has listed Imphal among 75 cities selected from across the country for a survey on the conditions of sanitation and hygiene.

Speaking to media persons at the conference hall of Manipur Secretariat this afternoon, MAHUD Secretary RK Dinesh said that QCI would conduct survey in the 75 cities from January 5 to 20 for Swachh Bharat City Ranking under the Ministry of Urban Development.

Results of the survey would be declared on January 25 on the website 'My Gov' .

The survey would focus on door-to-door garbage collection, proper disposal of municipal solid waste, household individual toilets and community toilet seats and waste management and treatment.

Data which would be collected for ranking the cities would be done in three different ways viz; collection of data from and interactions with municipal body (1000 mark), collect of data from direct observation (500 mark) and collection of data from citizen feedback through IVRS questionnaire (500 mark), RK Dinesh elaborated.

Replying to a query, he said that construction of a solid waste management plant at Lamdeng is almost complete.

A firm based outside the State called Innovative Eco Care would run the plant under PPP model.

The firm would invest around Rs 20 crore for generating power from waste materials.

As of now, the plant is capable of only producing manure from waste materials.

The 'State Government would sign an agreement with the firm and a little official process is pending.

The plant is likely to be commissioned by January, he continued.

MAHUD Director N Gitkumar said that the survey would be held at Imphal from January 12 to 14.Observers sent by the Ministry would carry out the survey independently.

1000 mobile phone numbers of residents of every ward of Imphal Municipal Corporation have been sent to the Ministry and the observers may talk with at least 50 residents of each ward.

Gitkumar said that 60 per cent weightage would be given to solid waste management during evaluation of the survey, 30 per cent to individual household and community toilets and 10 per cent to city level sanitation plans and information, education and behaviour change communication.

People may also participate in the Swachh Bharat City Ranking through Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) by dialling toll free number 1800-267-2777 .

Out of 476 cities assessed by the Ministry for the survey, Imphal was ranked 83rd.Meanwhile, Imphal Sporting Club, Uripok has been listed among 32 NGOs and youth clubs selected by the Ministry which are working or assisting in garbage collection and disposal.

The State Government would felicitate the club with a cash reward of Rs 20,000, Gitkumar added.

IMC Chief Executive Office Ng Uttam pledged that IMC would work at the maximum level to take Imphal to a higher status regardless of its existing position in terms of manpower and infrastructure.

He said that NGOs engaged in garbage collection work would be rationalised and a toll free phone number would be opened.

Garbage bins would be kept at appropriate places for clusters of shops.

These bins would be taken inside a shop during night and they would be taken outside every morning.

Uttam also appealed to all the people to give up the habit of disposing waste materials and garbage at public or improper places.

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