Annual Review Meeting of Swachh Iconic Places at Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar, Jharkhand

Shashank Shekhar

Bokaro ( Jharkhand) : The 3rd Annual Review meeting on Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) was held on February 18, 2020, at Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand.

The SIP is the brainchild of PM Narendra Modi and is coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Thirty Swachh Iconic Places have been selected across the country in three phases and action plans for improving the sanitation facilities and overall cleanliness, focusing on enhancing visitor’s experience and convenience are being implemented. Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar, figures in the 2nd phase of Iconic Sites.

The National Review Meeting was inaugurated by the Minister, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of Jharkhand,  Mithilesh Thakur, and attended by Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, DDWS, Government of India, and senior officials from the state and central government, nodal persons from iconic sites/states, partnering PSUs and other local bodies.

Mithilesh Thakur, speaking on the occasion,  said that SIP projects have played a very critical role in improving the cleanliness standards at the selected thirty iconic sites especially at Baidyanath Dham Temple, Deoghar. He spoke about some of the key activities undertaken to improve swachhata on the temple premises like using the waste generated from the offerings at the temple to generate compost, and rejuvenation of water bodies like Shiv Ganga Sarovar. He also launched and dedicated ‘Five Water ATM’s for Baidyanath Dham Temple, supported by the PSU partner Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.

Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, DDWS,  Parameswaran Iyer, threw light on the importance of SIP and gave the example of how the SIP activities at Deoghar have been recognised and awarded twice in the past for their good work. He also gave examples of the good work being done at some of the other sites from across the country. Secretary, DDWS, Govt of Jharkhand, Aradhana Patnaik, welcomed participants from all the iconic sites and appreciated their efforts in improving conditions at these sites.

Nodal officers from 25 of the 30 iconic sites and their PSU partners presented their progress and key activities being carried out at these sites including Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM), beautification and landscaping of premises and approach areas, construction of sanitation and safe drinking water facilities, rooftop solar panels, battery operated sweeping machines, rejuvenation of water bodies, ban on plastic use, Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), multi-level parking, illuminated boards, awareness campaigns and IEC interventions.