Several activities related to swachhta/sanitation like eradication of manual scavenging, construction of community toilets, public toilets and urinals, management of municipal solid waste and Information Education and Communication (IEC) programmes etc. are carried out by Cantonment Boards in those areas of Cantonments where civilians are residing. Details of such activities are given below:-
- All Cantonments have been certified as ODF and are pursuing for higher star rating.
- All Cantonment Boards have participated in the Swachh Survekshan, 2019, 2020 and 2021 conducted by Ministry of Urban Affairs and Housing.
- Cantonment Boards have been renovating and maintaining community and public toilets. Mobile toilets and bio-toilets have been installed by some Cantonment Boards as required.
- Door to door collection of garbage has been implemented in civil areas of the Cantonments.
- Swachhta Pakhwada is being observed every year and cleanliness drives are under taken in all wards.
- Regular sweeping is being done in the market and residential areas.
- Public drains are being regularly cleaned.
- Solid waste management in the civil areas is being done in accordance with Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Banned plastic is being seized and fines are imposed.
- Cantonment Boards are regularly taking action for creating awareness amongst the citizens/school children/shopkeepers/ hotels/restaurants/vendors of the civil areas through social media, hoardings, advertisements, banners, posters, pamphlets, etc. about littering of garbage, segregation of dry and wet waste in separate receptacles apart from domestic hazardous waste and construction and demolition waste, prevention of single use plastic, garbage burning, tree plantation, etc.
- Sewerage/STP Project was completed at Deolali Cantonment during 2020-21. STP Projects are in progress at Lucknow, Jhansi and Wellington Cantonments.
- Public grievances relating to sanitation and hygiene are being redressed by Cantonment Boards through e-Chhawani online portal.
- Permission is being granted promptly for construction of individual toilets by residents living in authorised houses.
Most of these activities are carried out by the Cantonment Boards out of their own resources. However, Cantonment Board Shillong and Mhow have received Rs 12,53,733/- (for construction of toilets) and Rs 43,00,000/- (for purchase of garbage vehicles) from Government of Meghalaya and Government of Madhya Pradesh respectively under Swachh Bharat Mission.
Cantonment Boards are also carrying out certain activities under the Swachh Bharat Mission like participation in Swachhta Survekshan, declaration as Garbage free city and elimination of Open Defecation.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Naresh Bansal in Rajya Sabha today.
