Hyderabad declared Open defecation free

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Tuesday declared Hyderabad city as Open Defecation Free (ODF) under the Swachh Bharat Mission(SBM).

As per Metro Cities, Only Greater Mumbai and Greater Hyderabad got ODF certification by Quality Control Division (QCD), SBM.

A Central team from the QCD of SBM, had recently visited the city to verify GHMC's claims that it deserved the official ODF status. The team released its results last evening.

Based on the assessment and recommendations by the QCD, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs certified Hyderabad city as ODF.

The  team had also visited slums, schools, chapels, markets, colonies being managed by colony welfare associations in four different parts of the city, including a railway station and a bus station, to verify the implementation of open defecation free zones.

The ODF free city tag is a shot in the arm for GHMC, which is gearing up for the Swachh Survekshan ranking.

Corporators from all the 150 wards in Hyderabad had given an undertaking that their respective wards were open defecation free. This was followed by GHMC's preliminary notification, declaring Hyderabad an open defecation free city in August.

Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development,  K T Rama Rao said Swachh Bharat Mission has declared Hyderabad as ODF city.

" My compliments to Grater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Mayor B.Rammohan and  his team, he tweeted.

Welcoming the announcment , GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy expressed his gratitude towards the people of Hyderabad for assisting the civic body in achieving the feat.

He said the declaration now adds additional responsibility on the Corporation in ensuring cleanliness in the city.

Mayor Bonthu Rammohan complimented GHMC staff and citizens for achieving ODF status.