CM lauds 'Team Aruchal', wants much cleaner city

From Our Correspondent

Itagar, June 9: Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu attributed the ‘significant’ turround of the Capital Complex from being India’s third dirtiest city to becoming the 216th cleanest within a year to the ‘Team Aruchal’ motto adopted by the Itagar Municipal Council (IMC), Capital Administration, NGOs and individuals.

“I have always been saying milestones are reached working in a team. IMC has proved it in a year. My salute goes to all involved (in achieving the milestone),” Khandu said at a function organised by IMC at the State Banquet Hall here on Thursday.

He also congratulated the NGOs who voluntarily joined the campaign and contributed to the efforts put in by IMC and the district administration, an official report said.

Khandu hailed Prime Minister rendra Modi, who had launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014, and said the state governments took the drive seriously and the difference is visible countrywide.

He said that the prime minister is serious with all schemes and programmes announced and has made it mandatory for the chief ministers to submit action-taken reports and achievements made once in two months.

“With Modi as PM things have changed. There is a drastic change in work culture. Even if I am the chief minister, under him (Modi) I have to work as any other officer,” he pointed.

The chief minister announced that by 2018, Aruchal Pradesh will become an open-defecation free state. He said the department of PHE is implementing the programme and will ensure the target.

Khandu asserted that sanitation is a responsibility not only of the government, the IMC or the district administration but also of the citizens. He called upon each and every individual to take the responsibility of keeping their surroundings clean.

“The state capital is the face of Aruchal. Do we want it dirty?” he asked and beckoned all to take the city from the current 216th position to the top ten in the coming year.

He assured full support and cooperation to IMC in all its endeavours and urged the council members to utilise the funds granted judiciously.

Deputy Chief Minister Chow Mein stressed on creating civic sense amongst the citizens and called for the leaders to set examples. He said if leaders, officers and responsible citizens exemplify their civic sense first, common people will follow.

Mein said Gandhi had emphasised the importance of sanitation years ago and we are learning now. He urged everyone to follow the advice of Gandhi and pledge to keep the surrounding clean.

Urban Development Minister bam Rebia and Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin also congratulated IMC for the achievement and said the target should now be to be one of India’s cleanest cities, the report added.