Bhubaneswar, Oct. 21: The city is gearing up to take part in the second edition of the Swachh Survekshan next January.

In order to sensitise the stakeholders, including various voluntary organisations, Bhubaneswar will host a regional-level workshop tomorrow with nine cities from Chhattisgarh and the same number from Odisha to take part in the national-level survey this time.

In the first edition of the cleanliness survey that was held in January, Bhubaneswar had competed with 73 other cities of the country and ranked 24th. Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said the corporation was going to leave no stone unturned this time to get the top slot in the next survey.

"We are steadily improving. We are in process of setting up adequate number of trash bins, toilets and other such facilities to ensure cleanliness. Our officials have also come up with plans to expedite the process of making the city free from open defecation by March 2018," said Jena.

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has now entrusted the construction of individual household latrines with voluntary organisations that will monitor the construction and be responsible to sensitise people to use these.

The administration has also formed a team to monitor the speedy construction of the proposed hybrid toilets in the capital city.

"It is a timely move of the government to come up with such alternative plans to achieve the targets under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The city lacks adequate toilets, and because of the large number of slums, open defecation is rampant. The slum dwellers should be provided with enough toilets as soon as possible," said Dumduma resident Gyanaranjan Hota, a teacher by profession.

A senior civic body official said they had called upon all stakeholders, including the interested voluntary organisations, in tomorrow's workshop.

"We will prepare a rigorous plan and try our level best to complete construction of as many hybrid toilets and household latrines as possible by the end of the year," said the official.

In the national-level survey this time, the cities will be judged on the basis of planned and unplanned colonies, cleanliness in commercial and market areas and most importantly, feedback from the citizens. The survey this time will witness the participation of nearly 500 cities from across the country.

"The objective of the survey is to encourage large-scale citizen participation and create awareness among the masses about the importance of a clean and green city," said another civic body official.

Niladri Vihar resident Sumeet Mishra said that the competition this time was bigger and it was a crucial time for Bhubaneswar to live up to the expectations especially after being chosen as the first city to be taking up under the Smart City scheme. "The municipal corporation should put the facilities in place to ensure cleanliness and we are always here to support them in their efforts," he said.