Shimla open defecation-free

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 13

The 34-member House of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Wednesday passed a resolution, declaring the city an “open defecation-free and “swachh city”.

It was also decided that the hot spots will be fenced and violators will be brought to book. The result of “Swachh Survekshan” is likely to be out at the end of this month.

The MC also decided to buy plastic at Rs 15 per kg from rag pickers to make Shimla a “swachh city”. It also decided to seek fresh bids for maintenance and operation of 110 public toilets as the present Delhi-based contractor Lok Priya Sewa Sansthan refused to continue its contract.

According to guidelines of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, a city can be declared open defecation-free, if no one defecates or urinates in the open.

Besides, all public toilets are functional and well-maintained with sewage and faecal sludge is safely managed and treated and is not leaked in the drains, water bodies and open areas, the guidelines say.

Mayor Kusum Sadret said the SMC had passed the preliminary resolution on January 30, declaring Shimla ODF and sought public objections in 15 days.

“We have not got even a single objection from the public. Today, the House adopted the resolution and passed it unanimously,” she added.

Brockhurst Nullah, Maliana, Bhatta Kufar, Tibetan colonies at Sanjauli and Panthaghati, labour tents at Heera Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Down Dales, labour’s tent colonies of the MC and PWD near the Himfed petrol pump, Sanjauli, near ISBT, Tuttikandi and Snowdon Nullah, had been identified as hot spots and these would be fenced, said Pankaj Rai, MC Commissioner. The CCTV cameras were being installed.