Andhra Pradesh is seeking to emerge as the first State in the country to make its towns free of open defecation by October 2 to coincide with the two years of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The State government officials gave the commitment during a review of the progress of Swachh Bharat Mission in all the 110 municipalities by Rajiv Gauba, Secretary (Urban Development) here on Saturday. He also reviewed the progress of urban missions like Smart city Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). He held discussions with the collectors of the 13 districts and municipal commissioners of urban local bodies on their action plans for ensuring sanitation. AP has been in the forefront of construction of toilets in urban areas. Against the Mission target of construction of 1,94,336 individual household toilets work has started in 1,53,779 and construction of 1,04,732 toilets has already been completed, an official press release stated. In addition to the central assistance of ₹4,000 per toilet, AP is extending assistance of an additional ₹11,000 per toilet to give a boost to the programme.
With respect to community and public toilet seats, against the mission target of 4,614 seats, work has started on 3,887 seats and 1,952 seats have already been constructed.
Thegovernment has awarded works for construction of 10 waste-to-energy plants for generating 63 MW.