Centre to interview Mumbaiites next Monday for its annual city cleanliness survey

The team will conduct up to 10 interviews per area of inspection next Monday; in 2016, Mumbai ranked 29th, below Navi Mumbai and Pune

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is hoping that Mumbai will improve its ranking in this year’s Swachh Survekshan survey, an annual cleanliness evaluation exercise carried out by the Centre. However, it is nervous as this year, for the first time, the inspection team will also interview citizens.

The BMC earmarked 117 spots two years ago and constructed toilets within 500 metres of them. (HT File Photo)

When the central team inspects the Open Defecation Free (ODF) spots — one of the five parameters of the survey — that the civic body has identified across Mumbai, it will also conduct interviews of people living nearby, or those who use the newly constructed toilets. The ODF inspection has been scheduled for next Monday.

The team will conduct up to 10 interviews per area of inspection, the Centre has told the BMC, though no points will be awarded specifically for the interview round.

“The ODF spots we have identified are mostly in slums, and it is impossible to control the response of people from these areas,” said a senior BMC official in charge of the process, requesting anonymity. “The good thing is, there are no points for the interviews.”

The BMC earmarked 117 ODF spots two years go, constructed toilets within 500 metres of them, and then declared the city open defecation free in 2016. However, this did nothing to improve the city’s ranking in the survey.

Cities are evaluated on five parameters – waste collection, solid waste management, construction of toilets to create ODF zones, sanitation strategies and behaviour change through communication. It is for this last parameter that the Centre will conduct personal interviews.