MCC to tie-up with UN-Habitat

Speaking to Deccan Herald, MCC Commissioner Dr K N Vijayprakash said that the project is an initiative by United Nations, Millennium Development Goals which aims to give safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to cities in Asian Countries by 2015.

“Mangalore City Corporation has been selected for this project by UN-Habitat after evaluating more than 100 cities in India,” he said and added that very few cities in this country have been selected to be a part of this project.

The entire project is worth $ 2 lakh out of which $ 1 lakh will be provided by UN-Habitat and $ 1 lakh will be put in by the MCC. The contribution of the City Corporation can be either through allotting land or in form of service, he said.

Components of plan

Preparation of City for sanitation plan, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for awareness and promotion of hygiene behaviour through mass awareness campaign and programmes in schools are some of the major components of the plan, said the Commissioner. He further added that capacity building programme for various stake holders including MCC sanitation staff, demonstration of community based solid waste collection and segregation of disposal, a pilot biogas plant and decentralised sustainable approach to sewage and waste system (DEWATS) which is specified to an area are the other components.

Outcome

City sanitation plan preparation through a participatory process, construction and maintenance of bio gas plant and DEWAT system at appropriate locations, segregation of waste in every ward and effective management and utilisation of solid waste will be the outcomes of the project, revealed Dr Vijayprakash.

The project has already been sanctioned by the UN-Habitat and will be implemented with prior approval from the Government. The project will take two years to complete after its commencement, said MCC Commissioner and added that the UN-Habitat Division II Chief of Water and Sanitation Andre Dzikus  and UN-Habitat Member-Chief Technical Advisor (India) Dr Pradip Nandi have already visited the MCC.

“This is a novel initiative and a participatory and pro-poor approach. Having association with UN-Habitat is another feather in MCC’s cap. This project will make Mangalore a pro active and unique city,” said Dr Vijayprakash.