1 million people to be free of open defecation, Mysuru city at first

Mysuru’s has been declared the first Indian city with a population of one million or more to be declared free of open defecation.

On September 30, At Swachh Bharat Saptah programme in New Delhi, Mysuru City Corporation authorities will receive the award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Mysuru at an event on September 27, they will receive a certificate from officers of the Union ministry of urban development.

The status of India’s first open defecation free (ODF) city was granted after a survey of 73 cities by the Quality Council of India (QCI).The laurel comes two years after Mysuru was declared the cleanest city in India, it retained the position for the second successive year.

`Swachh Survekshan’ survey, The first of its kind looked for level of cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene in the cities.

QCI had a tough task deciding between Mysuru and Vijayawada. “But finally we scored over them.We are not aware what exactly favoured us,” Mayor BL Byrappa said . “Nearly 99% of households in Mysuru have toilets and the civic body is receiving applications for aid to build more. Every house in the city’s 28 slums has a toilet”, Byrappa said. The city has about 50 public toilets, and tenders have been floated for constructing more, MCC commissioner said.