Latest news with #SBM-Urban
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Fuel pump wash rooms in NH should be open to customers 24x7, says Kerala HC
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday ruled that all washrooms at petrol pumps located along National Highways must remain accessible to the public round the clock. For fuel outlets in other areas across the state, the court directed that washroom facilities should be made available to all customers and transit travellers, subject to safety and security considerations. Justice C.S. Dias issued the order while modifying an earlier interim directive from 17 June, which had restrained authorities from insisting that petrol pump washrooms be opened to the general public. The fresh ruling came in response to a petition filed by the Petroleum Traders Welfare and Legal Service Society, along with retail outlet dealers from Thiruvananthapuram and Thodupuzha. The petition challenged attempts by local self-government bodies to portray or convert privately maintained toilets at fuel stations into public toilet facilities. The court strongly criticised this approach, questioning how the government could transfer its responsibility under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) to private dealers. 'It is the duty of the government to provide toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission. How can the government compel someone else to open their toilets?' the court remarked. The state government presented SBM-Urban guidelines and a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways circular dated 26 December 2013, which mandates that drinking water and toilet facilities at fuel stations and rest area complexes along National Highways must be accessible to the public 24x7. The circular also calls for clear signage at such outlets indicating the availability of these amenities.
Hans India
24-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Swachh Bharat Mission: India's sanitation drive shows strong gains
New Delhi: India's sanitation landscape continues to evolve under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), with significant infrastructure gains across both rural and urban areas. According to a written reply in the Lok Sabha given by Minister of State for Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, the country has constructed over 11.9 crore individual household latrines (IHHLs) and 2.6 lakh community sanitary complexes (CSCs) under SBM-Grameen since 2014. Uttar Pradesh leads with more than 2.5 crore IHHLs, followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. In urban areas, SBM-Urban and its second phase have added 63.78 lakh household toilets and 6.36 lakh public and community toilet seats, with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh among the top contributors. However, the report highlights persistent challenges in maintaining community facilities. Many CSCs suffer from poor upkeep due to unclear ownership, lack of dedicated funds, and limited awareness. Despite this, Gram Panchayats in several states are innovating—linking toilets to local businesses and conducting awareness campaigns to improve sustainability. The government has released substantial Central funds to support sanitation efforts -- Rs 28,849 crore in 2014–15 under SBM-G, peaking at Rs 21,629 crore in 2018–19, and Rs 3,622 crore in 2024–25. SBM-U has seen Rs 1,892 crore released in 2024–25, with additional allocations under the revised SNA-Sparsh model. The Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2023–24 survey, covering over 17,000 villages and 2.6 lakh households, found that 95.1 per cent of rural households have access to toilets, while 78.7 per cent have arrangements for greywater disposal. Yet, only 39.9 per cent segregate waste, and 29.4 per cent of villages have proper waste storage sheds. In terms of infrastructure, 61.4 per cent of Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs) and 58.5 per cent of GOBARdhan biogas plants were found functional. Urban sanitation surveys show that 4,692 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are certified ODF, with 1,973 achieving ODF++ status and 214 certified Water+. The government aims to sustain ODF status and promote solid and liquid waste management under SBM-G Phase II. Financial assistance of up to Rs 60 per capita is available for villages under 5,000 population, and Rs 45 for larger ones. Each block is expected to have at least one PWMU, with Rs 16 lakh allocated per unit. The mission's next phase will focus on behaviour change, technological innovation, and inclusive sanitation planning to ensure long-term impact.
