Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday launched a survey here to assess and rank cities and towns based on levels of sanitation and efforts made by the urban local bodies.
The Swachh Survekshan 2017 is the second survey since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission in October 2014.
“While the last round of survey was conducted among 73 cities with a population of 10 lakh and above each, this second round of survey will cover 500 cities and towns,” Naidu said.
The survey will include urban areas with a population of one lakh and above each, capital towns with less than one lakh population, and towns of importance from the point of view of heritage, tourism and hilly locations, etc.
Naidu said since the first Swachh Survekshan Survey, 115 cities have become open defecation-free (ODF) and another 793 cities and towns are set to become so by March next year. Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are expected to become ODF by March, 2017.
The minister released various publications and mobile applications to help the 500 cities and towns prepare for the survey to be conducted in January next year.
He addressed, via video conferencing, the Mayors, Municipal Chairpersons, Municipal Commissioners and other officials of the cities and towns to be surveyed.