Parliament Question: Incentives to ULBs

O.I.H. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3102 TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 06, 2026 INCENTIVES TO ULBS NO. 3102 SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT: Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether there is any provision to provide additional financial assistance, special grants or other resources as incentives to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) securing excellent or high grades in cleanliness audits and if so, the details thereof along with the details of the process, criteria and the frequency of the said audit; (b) if not, whether there is any such proposal under consideration for the same and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the drone technology is being used under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U) for monitoring cleanliness, inspecting waste management sites and assessing the cleanliness arrangements in public places and if so, the details thereof, State and ULB-wise along with the outcomes achieved therefrom; and (d) if not, the Government's perspective on using drone technology to make cleanliness monitoring more effective and technology-based? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU) (a) and (b): Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U) 2.0 was launched on 1 October 2021 for a period of five years, introducing a new component, Used Water Management (UWM), with the vision of achieving Garbage Free Status for all cities through source segregation, door-to-door collection, …2/--2- scientific management of all fractions of waste, safe disposal of residual waste in scientific landfills, and remediation of all legacy dumpsites in the urban areas of the country. Under SBM – U 2.0, the total financial outlay of the States and UTs for the entire Mission Period is ₹1,41,600 Cr, including committed Central Assistance of ₹36,465 Cr. Under Solid Waste Management component of SBM-U 2.0 Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of fund is provided for setting up various type of municipal waste processing facilities such as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), Waste to Compost (WtC) plants, Bio-methanation plants, Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) processing facilities, Waste to Electricity (WtE) plants, Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste plants, sanitary landfill including CBG plant. Under UWM component, financial assistance is provided to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with population less than 1 Lakh for setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)/ STP-cum-FSTP and laying Interception and Diversion (I&D) structures including provision of pumping stations and pumping main/gravity main upto STP etc. Further, MoHUA has been conducting an annual cleanliness survey – Swachh Survekshan since the year 2016, which has over the years played a key role in triggering positive competition amongst cities towards achieving the objectives of the Mission. This annual survey ranks cities on various cleanliness parameters, conducted through a significantly rigorous process, has enthused cities and States/UTs to compete positively with each other to be ranked as the cleanest city/ State. Best Ranking cities are awarded for their performance. No other incentives are provided to cities selected under Swachhta Survekshan. (c) and (d): Sanitation is a State subject. State/ULBs are responsible for planning, designing, executing, operating and reviewing sanitation and solid waste management works in the urban areas of the country, including decisions on deployment of technology such as drone-based aerial survey for monitoring cleanliness, inspecting waste management sites and assessing cleanliness arrangements in public places. *****