`Swachh Bharat Mission': Hyderabad declared water plus city

Hyderabad becomes the first local body of Telangana to achieve this feat.

Swachh Bharat Mission was launched by MoHUA in 2014. Under the mission, certifications are provided to cities ranging from Open Defecation Free (ODF), ODF+, ODF++ & Water +.)

Water plus protocol aims to provide a guideline for cities and towns to ensure that no untreated wastewater is released into the environment thereby enabling sustainability of the sanitation value chain.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said it is because of the efforts of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority that his feat has been achieved.

GHMC said the wastewater of households and Commercial, establishments are treated at different sewerage treatment plants (STPs).

The treated water is reused for various purposes such as watering avenue plantation, parks, construction of flyovers/footpaths, public toilets, agriculture needs downstream.

GHMC has already been certified as ODF++, which means at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating and/ or urinating in the open, all community and public toilets are functional and well maintained, AND fecal sludge/septage and sewage is safely managed and treated, with no discharging and/or dumping of untreated fecal sludge/septage and sewage in drains, water bodies, or open areas.