Agartala, Aug 12: Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday inaugurated Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) phase-II at the civil secretariat via a video conference.

He also launched a programme for distribution of equipment meant for solid and liquid waste management and installation of 1,176 dustbins across the state.

Addressing the programme, Deb said, “as many as 60,000 families of 350 villages have been identified for distribution of dustbins at the first stage of the second phase of the project. Besides, an initiative has been taken to place 6,000 dustbins at different locations of the state, distribute compost pits among 7,000 people and 700 tricycles and battery-operated vehicles."

The Chief Minister also stressed on creating a slogan for raising mass awareness about the project. He also passed an instruction for giving responsibility to Village Sanitation Committees formed by Gram Panchayats or village committees for maintaining cleanliness of the dustbins.

Swachh Bharat Mission- Gramin is playing an important role towards the goal of building Swachh Tripura, said Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.

The project would ensure proper management and recycling of solid and liquid wastes as well as bring more cleanliness in villages and generate income scopes, the Chief Minister said, according to a government press release.

Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Verma, Secretary (PWD) Kiran Gitte, Secretary (Rural Development) Saumya Gupta and District Magistrates of various districts and other officials took part in the virtual launching programme.