Swachh Survekshan Rankings 2018

What is the issue?

• Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have released the Swachh Survekshan 2018 ranking, which ranks cities based on cleanliness.
• Indore as the cleanest among 4,203 urban local bodies (ULBs) in the country for the 2^nd time in the row, which is followed by Bhopal.

How did Indore retain its prime position?

• Statistics - Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has been taking out a strong campaign through songs and outreach programs. 
• The corporation also claims to have achieved 100% segregation of wet and dry garbage at source.
• Waste is collected once a day from residential areas and twice from commercial areas.
• The IMC has nearly 10,000 employees and officers and they are said to be aided by socially responsible citizenry.
• Penalties - Lately, the municipal body began to slap spot fines from Rs 250 to Rs 500 on those spitting on roads, urinating in the open, or littering.
• While efforts to deter habitual offenders haven’t worked in the past, a public shaming campaign by naming them in media has been initiated recently.
• Nudging Push - IMC distributed free bottle shaped suitably sized dustbins to vehicle owners to encourage them to not throw waste out of windows.
• Innovative cleanliness products for sale are also aplenty in the open markets.
• Technology - Initiatives to segregate dry waste, installing recycling units in gardens, outside hotels, and marriage halls have been taken up.
• Compost pits were built at fruit and vegetable and markets, and a bio-methanation plant has also been set up.
• Administrative steps - IMC replaced garbage bins that used to overflow with suitable containers of sufficient capacity.
• Swachhata Samitis were set up in schools and colleges, and participants in religious and other processions were encouraged to keep the streets clean.
• Public toilets were built in large numbers.

Source: Indian Express