Ten new iconic sites selected under Phase III of Swachh Iconic Places of Swachh Bharat Mission

The Union Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has selected 10 more iconic sites under Phase III of Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) of Swachh Bharat Mission. The third phase of SIP was launched at Mana village which is situated close to Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand.

Key Facts

These 10 new sites under Phase III have joined 20 other iconic places selected under Phase I & II where special sanitation work is already underway. 10 new iconic sites are: Raghavendra Swamy Temple (Andhra Pradesh), Hazarduari Palace (West Bengal), Brahma Sarovar Temple (Haryana), Vidur Kuti (Uttar Pradesh), Mana village (Uttarakhand), Pangong Lake (J&K), Nagvasuki Temple (UP), Ima Keithal market (Manipur), Sabarimala Temple (Kerala) and Kanvashram (Uttarakhand).

Swachh Iconic Places (SIP)

SIP is an initiative of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Mission and was launched in 2016. It was initiated as project to implement Prime Minister’s vision to take iconic places and their surroundings to higher standards of cleanliness (swachhata), so that all visitors benefit and also take away home message of cleanliness.
Implementation of SIP: It is collaborative project of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation with three other central Ministries: Ministry of (M/o) Housing and Urban Affairs, M/o Culture, and M/o Tourism. It also involves local administrations in concerned states and public sector and private companies are also sponsoring partners.
Initiatives taken up under SIP: Improved sewage infrastructure, installation of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), drainage facilities, improved sanitation facilities, water vending machines, solid and liquid waste management (SLWM) set-up, structure restoration, lighting arrangements, beautification of parks, roads maintenance, better transport facilities in approach and access areas besides at the main sites.
Phase I iconic places are: Ajmer Sharif Dargah, CST Mumbai, Kamakhya Temple, Golden Temple, Maikarnika Ghat, Meenakshi Temple, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Jagannath Temple, Taj Mahal and Tirupati Temple.
Phase II of Swachh Iconic Places: Gangotri, Yamunotri, Charminar, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assissi, Kalady, Gommateswara, BaidyanathDham, Gaya Tirth and Somnath temple.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2018