Latest news with #UnionHousingandUrbanAffairsMinistry


Hans India
6 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Indore retains top spot in cleanliness survey
New Delhi: Indore retained the top position among the cleanest cities for the eighth time in a row, followed by Surat and Navi Mumbai under the 'Super Swachh League' award category in the government's annual cleanliness survey. In the 'Swachh Shahar' category for cities with more than 10 lakh population, Ahmedabad secured the first position while Bhopal and Lucknow followed it on the next two spots in the annual survey. The results of the Swachh Survekshan were announced on Thursday. According to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, 14 crore people participated in the survey through face-to-face interactions, the Swachhata App, MyGov, and social media platforms in over 4,500 cities. A total of 78 awards were presented this year across four categories -- Super Swachh League Cities; Top three clean cities in five population categories; Special Category: Ganga Towns, Cantonment Boards, SafaiMitra Suraksha, Mahakumbh; and State Level Awards -- Promising clean city of a state or Union Territory. Under the new category -- 'Super Swachh League' -- Noida emerged the cleanest city, followed by Chandigarh and Mysore in the three to 10 lakh population category.


NDTV
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Centre Announces 4% Government Housing Quota For Persons With Disabilities
New Delhi: The Centre will provide 4 per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in the allotment of government housing under the General Pool Residential Accommodation category. The Directorate of Estates under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, which allots accommodation to eligible Central government employees, has issued an office memorandum in this regard. In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said that the "landmark" move is towards inclusive development drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. "Going forward, a reservation of 4 per cent in the allotment of Central government housing will be provided to persons with disabilities, marking a substantial move towards equity, dignity, and accessibility in public services. "This initiative reflects the government's dedication to the empowerment of every citizen and also strengthens the foundation of an inclusive and accessible India," the statement added. In alignment with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Directorate of Estates has issued the office memorandum to ensure fair access to Central government residential accommodations for persons with disabilities. It also said that Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal has taken a "landmark" step towards inclusive governance.

The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Urban Affairs Ministry vision forViksit Bharat focuses on providing ‘drink from tap' facilities
Aligning with the Centre's 'Viksit Bharat' vision, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has created a blueprint for achieving comprehensive water security and sustainability across the country, with a focus on shifting to 'drink from tap' facilities. The document envisages a 'shift from bottled water and water tankers to providing clean, safe drinking water directly from taps in urban and rural areas by improving water treatment systems and infrastructure for a sustainable, reliable supply'. This will improve water quality and enhance public health by reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and contamination, it said. The Centre's 'Viksit Bharat @2047' initiative envisions India as a developed nation by the centenary of its Independence in 2047. The document, which is part of the Ministry's vision and plan for achieving the goal, focusses on several transformative initiatives like recycling water for agriculture to enhance availability, reduce dependence on freshwater, and support sustainable farming and industrial water reuse. According to the document, which has been submitted to a Parliamentary Standing Committee by the Ministry, the aim is to not only ensure equitable water access but also create a robust infrastructure that supports sustainable water use and management for urban and rural populations. Some of the other plans mentioned are rejuvenation of water bodies; revival of lakes, ponds, and rivers to restore water storage capacity and improve quality; boosting groundwater recharge; recharging shallow aquifers to prevent groundwater depletion and sustain urban water supplies; and restoring traditional wells to strengthen local water resources and reduce external dependence. The vision document also talks about designing cities with permeable surfaces and green infrastructure to absorb rainwater, reduce run off, and enhance groundwater recharge. According to it, the Ministry has plans to target recycling of 10,000 million litres a day (MLD) of water for agriculture, industry, and urban use, reducing pressure on freshwater sources, while encouraging industries to adopt water recycling technologies to promote sustainable operations. An effort would also be made to digitise water infrastructure by integrating advanced technologies like smart meters, sensors, and remote monitoring systems to track water usage, detect leaks, and optimise water distribution. This creates an intelligent, responsive system that can efficiently manage water resources in real time.