Patna: Patna and Gaya have been selected among 50 cities across the country under the Centre’s newly launched ‘Pragati 50’ initiative to develop model cities in sanitation and cleanliness.Union minister for housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal launched the initiative on Tuesday. The 50 cities across 24 states will focus on cleanliness, solid waste management, wastewater management, hygiene and citizen participation under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.Bihar urban development and housing department minister Nitish Mishra, who joined the launch programme virtually, said the initiative would strengthen the implementation of innovative sanitation practices in the selected cities. “The objective of Pragati 50 is to ensure better implementation of innovations in the field of cleanliness in the selected cities,” he said.Manohar Lal said the selected cities would serve as sanitation models for other urban centres. The cities include major urban centres, cultural destinations, tourist locations and economic hubs. He said progress would be assessed through measurable outcomes and review meetings held every two months under his chairmanship.The initiative follows directions issued during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 51st Pragati meeting. According to the ministry of housing and urban affairs, the selected cities will follow established sanitation standards and undergo continuous technology-enabled monitoring.A ‘Swachh Bharat Test Bed and Innovation Centre’ was also launched in Durgapur in collaboration with CSIR-CMERI. It will serve as a national hub for research, product development, testing, validation, certification and capacity building in sanitation technologies.A digital review mechanism on the Swachhata Portal will monitor the performance of the selected cities. Ministry officials will be assigned individual cities for regular monitoring and support.The Centre also launched a dedicated WhatsApp channel for sanitation-related complaints, alongside the existing sanitation app. Manohar Lal also launched the ‘Swachhata Behaviour Change Digital Repository’ to host ideas, creative content, campaigns and other resources promoting better sanitation practices.
