MoHUA conducts SBM-U 2.0 Planning & Implementation Review-cum-Workshop

By increasing awareness among citizens and consistently improving the availability of sanitation facilities, the first phase of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban was successful in achieving the target and 100% of urban India was declared Open Defecation Free. SBM-U 2.0’s mandate was to make Urban India Garbage Free and move beyond ODF. In the last 8 years the Mission has changed the narrative to revolutionise sanitation and waste management and catapulted behaviour change in countless citizens. The second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban became a people’s movement and helped in the large-scale mobilization and involvement of citizens. It was a significant step forward in the march towards effectively addressing the challenges of rapidly urbanizing India, while contributing towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

Taking the journey forward, the Mission is moving on the path of sustainable sanitation with over 3500 cities and over 1100 cities being certified ODF+ and ODF++ respectively, and 14 cities certified Water+, which entails treatment of wastewater and its optimum reuse. In Garbage Free Star Ratings for cities, 234 cities have 1-Star Rating, 199 are with 3-Star Rating and 11 cities with 5-star Ratings. The thrust on scientific waste management is evident with waste processing in India going up by over four times from 18% in 2014 to 76% today. More importantly, the Mission has been able to bring about a marked difference in the lives of sanitation workers, informal waste workers and SafaiMitras.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organized a day long Review-cum-Workshop to evaluate and accelerate the scale of planning and implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 across the country. Principal Secretaries Urban Development & Municipal Administration from 35 States/UTs, Commissioners of Municipal Corporations of 9 Megapolis, State Mission Directors, sector partners, development partners of MoHUA and others were in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri acknowledged the achievements in the 1st phase of SBM and credited the resounding success to the Jan Andolan that brought about a significant shift in behaviour.  The Union Minster emphasized that the second phase of the SBM Urban, seeks to realize the vision of garbage-free cities through scientific solid waste and used water management. He added that expediting planning and approving processes, over 50% of allocations for 22 States have been approved in just the second year.

While interacting with the States, he mentioned that during the ongoing Swachh Survekshan he is looking forward to witnessing a marked improvement in the sanitation and waste management status on the ground. The Union Minster highlighted that all cities should achieve 3-Star garbage-free rating by 2026 and this ambitious goal requires accelerated efforts through regular planning, monitoring, evaluation and implementation of corrective measures. He also emphasized that the Review-cum-workshop has provided a valuable platform for learning and sharing experiences of various States.

Announcing the launch of the Training Program at Centre of Excellence, Indore, Swachhata Knowledge Partners Directory & Swachh Survekshan 2024 Toolkit, the Union Minster, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri said that this will foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Addressing the participating States, Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, MoHUA, lauded the tremendous initiatives and relentless efforts of the cities towards Legacy Waste Remediation, waste processing, Used Water Management and Solid Waste management. He added, “We are here to discuss what work needs to be done in future.’’ Interacting with the States, the Secretary highlighted that States like MP, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, AP and Tamil Nadu have been exemplary and the other cities should visit these States to learn from them. Focussing on Legacy Waste Dumpsite and waste processing, the Secretary highlighted that planning and implementation should be expedited to achieve the target by 2026. He reiterated that SBM-U2.0’s focus is to establish sustainable infrastructure for efficient & scientific processing of waste besides promotion of Waste to Wealth and Circular Economy. He concluded with focus on Urban Planning that will benefit most of the States in the coming years and help implement source segregation, waste collection, transportation and processing.

Giving an overview of various projects under SBM-U 2.0 in different States, Ms. Roopa Mishra, JS & Mission Director, SBM, said, “It’s time to look at our policies, learn from other States, and move at a pace wherein we can achieve our 2026 target.” Reviewing various States under Municipal Solid Waste Management, she highlighted that SBM-U 2.0 draws its strength from segregation of waste at source and every city has to create a benchmark for fresh waste to stop reaching the dumpsites. She also highlighted on integrating informal sector, role of bulk waste generators, clustering landfills, behaviour change and operating EPRs. The first session of the day saw progress, planning & reviews of States on Municipal Wet Waste Management, Municipal Dry Waste Management including C&D Waste & Legacy Waste Remediation.

The post-lunch session started with discussions and review on Municipal Used Water Management in small cities Various States/UTS discussed and emphasized their progress and plans under Aspirational Toilets, Community Toilets/Public Toilets Management, Used Water management in small cities and SafaiMitra Suraksha.

Ms. D. Thara, Addl. Secretary, AMRUT shared the overall progress review of AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 projects. She emphasized on how to improve focus on quality in addition to accessibility of drinking water, how to really achieve saturation, what can be further done for source sustainability, water service levels, capacity aspects for improving efficiency of existing infra structure. She also focussed on the agenda of creating new water.

The workshop highlighted, the progress in various States/Cities in terms of IEC Campaigns, Capacity Building, IT, Infra, the policy approach of SWM – Door-to-Door Collection, Waste segregation, status of Waste processing, Action Plan Status, Waste To Wealth leading to circular economy, scientific landfill, bulk waste generators, MRFs, Composting Units, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Bio-methanation plants in various cities, Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) & Plastic Waste Management, Policy framework and Action Plan Status for UWM, STPs. Various States/UTs also shared their status, progress, planning and review of various projects, best practices, challenges faced and other experiences under SBM-U 2.0.