KHONSA, Feb 5: A district level city sanitation task force (CSTF) meeting on city sanitation plans (CSP) for Khonsa and Deomali towns of Tirap district was held here on Monday to brief the CSTF members on key sanitation-related issues identified for the towns, and get their inputs on areas of concern.
Under the National Urban Sanitation Policy, 2008, the state is preparing a state sanitation strategy and CSPs for 28 urban centres. The CSPs are aimed at transforming the identified urban towns into 100 percent sanitized areas. The CSP for Khonsa and Deomali are currently in progress.
The meeting was conducted by representatives of New Delhi-based IPE Global Limited (IPEGL), which is the consultant assisting the urban development & housing department in the preparation of the state’s CSPs.
“The city sanitation plan is a comprehensive document which details the short-, medium- and long-term plans for issues related to governance, technical, financial, capacity-building, awareness and pro-poor interventions to ensure 100 percent access to safe sanitation,” explained the IPEGL representatives.
A CSP will act as a policy and a guiding document for achieving urban sanitation objectives aimed towards protection of environment, and safe disposal of sewage, septage waste and solid waste.
Discussions were held on technological options for improving access to toilet facilities, waste water management, solid waste management and drainage management at household, community/neighbourhood and town levels.
The CSTF members offered suggestions on the feasibility of these options, and provided recommendations to the consultants on the actions necessary to achieve the objectives of the CSP.
A CSTF headed by the district commissioner has been constituted to provide guidance in preparation of the CSPs. (DIPRO)
