“If we clean up the garbage, at least Rs. 6500 will be saved in the pockets of the underprivileged. They will be saved from diseases. One, who cannot find work, will be saved from unemployment. Getting rid of the garbage is an important task for the health of the poor. That is why the service to this nation means the service to the poor.”
There has been a deep effect of PM Modi’s efforts on the cleanliness drive in his constituency of Varanasi. Being a public representative, he himself handled the cleanliness drive, twice. The First time he participated in Shramdaan at the Assi Ghat to clean up the garbage and the second time he held the broom and participated in the cleaning drive at the Jagannath temple on the occasion of Good governance day.
It is the result of PM Modi’s agility that in the past two and a half years, enough work has been done to keep kashi clean and beautiful. Many tasks are being carried out in the city for waste management & cleanliness with a cost of Rs. 108.26 crores. The ILFS & ECOPAL companies have been put in charge of door-to-door collection, cleaning and carriage of household refuse. For this task, a sum of Rs 45 crores has been allotted. Under the ‘Namami Gange’ scheme, ILFS will work on cleaning of all ghats. This will incur an expense of Rs. 5 crores per year.
NTPC has begun work at the Karsada Waste Disposal plant, which is pending for 7 years, with a cost of Rs. 7 crore. And now it has begun producing organic manure. In the same way, IOCL has begun operation of Electricity from decentralized waste plant with a capacity of 10 Metric Tonne, in Bhavnia Pokhari. Such plants are being set-up at 9 other places in Varanasi with a cost of Rs. 19 Crores.
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, Varanasi Municipal Corporation has been provided with Road sweeping machine, garbage truck, compactor & waste collection bins. More than 50 public urinals & 153 Public toilets have been constructed. Also, 2263 personal toilets have been constructed and 8122 more have been approved.
It is quite evident that swachhta mission has a very positive effect on this historical and sacred city. The people have also welcomed this initiative of the Prime Minister.
