Jamshedpur is known not only for its steel but also for green and clean city. And the report released by the Ministry of Urban Development is a testimony to this effect.

In order to sensitize the cities administration as well as the citizens about the current state of sanitation and raise awareness about the need for improvement, Govt of India has announced a National Rating of Class 1 Cities on sanitation parameters.

Releasing the rating here yesterday evening, Union Urban Development Minister, Shri Jaipal Reddy said that exercise for the rating initiated in 2009 is a part of National Urban Sanitation Policy to make Indian cities and towns totally sanitized, healthy and liveable i.e. they become Nirmal Shahars.

The Minister said the purpose of this exercise is also to recognize better performers as well as to encourage other cities to perform better. The idea is to galvanize action in states and cities towards better sanitation. Given the scale of urbanization and state of sanitation, this is a very timely initiative. He expressed the hope that all stakeholders would join hands in this national endeavour of creating total sanitized cities.

Various expert agencies were involved to assess the status of sanitation on the spot in Class I cities. Data collected and assessment made by these agencies were further analyzed by technical experts and rating was done by awarding points for various parameters. On the basis of their performance, cities have been kept in four categories that are - green, blue, black and red. No city could qualify in the green category while only four cities are in blue category.

The Minister noted that there are a number of cities that could easily cross the red category. The number of such cities is about 60. He called upon them to initiate actions towards better outcomes so that their ratings show desired improvements immediately. Similarly, a significant number of cities could become BLUE - there are about a dozen such cities. The Minister urged them to plan and implement measures that will graduate them into the BLUE category in the near future. There are four cities that are already in the BLUE category. These are Chandigarh, Surat, NDMC and Mysore. Congratulating them for their efforts, the Minister expressed hope that they would soon become GREEN cities.

Shri Reddy said that he would write to all the Chief Ministers to prioritize sanitation. Sanitation is linked human dignity and well-being. Equally it relates to our social and economic well-being. He expressed the hope that the ratings today will indeed mobilize all stakeholders to prioritise and take action for improving sanitation.