Modi’s initiatives find mention in BMC budget

Under the Swachh Bharat campaign, the civic body has planned to rid the city of open defecation and to construct toilets

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart Cities, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and ease of doing business find a mention in the civic budget.

Under the Swachh Bharat campaign, the civic body has planned to rid the city of open defecation and to construct toilets. It has allocated Rs195.52 crore for this, which is the highest ever. Rs15 crore will be spent only to create awareness through social media, campaigns and banners on cleanliness.

The civic body has identified 117 open defecation spots all over Mumbai. Of the Rs195.52 crore, Rs75 crore has been allocated to construct 3,340 toilet seats. Around 1,070 new toilet seats on a pay-and-use basis have also been planned. A provision of Rs12 crore is made for ‘viability gap funding” to the operators of pay-and-use toilets so that they do not increase user charges. Among other provisions, Rs75 crore will be spent on repairing toilet blocks. “The BMC being the principal agency to maintain sanitation in the city has taken key responsibility of implementation of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Mumbai,” civic chief Ajoy Mehta said in his budget speech.