Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to rope in Salman Khan in its drive against Open Defecation and litter in Mumbai. The Dabangg star will become the face of BMC’s Swachh Abhiyan and will create awareness about cleanliness. It is also being reported that Salman Khan is keen on setting up mobile toilets to make Mumbai free from open defecation. He will join the initiative through his Being Human Foundation, which has confirmed Mr Khan’s participation for the cause.
“Being a popular actor having a huge fan following, Salman would extend his support in terms of offering five mobile toilets across city. He will also appeal to citizens not to defecate in open,” said Assistant Municipal Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Kiran Dighavkar, who is associated with the cleanliness drive.
Salman Khan had also expressed his concern about open defecation in front of his home near Bandstand in Bandra. The BMC is looking into the issue and plans to make Mumbai Swachh and Clean by getting rid of open defecation spots on priority.
According to an estimate of the civic body, there were over 117 major open defecation spots in city, mainly located across the plots owned by government departments and agencies, which have been reduced to 77 in the last two years following BMC’s extensive drive against the menace. The wards that are now open defecation free include Dongri, Pydhonie, Chira Bazar, Bhendi Bazar and parts of Marine Drive.
“The civic corporation has a plan in place to eradicate this social evil of open defecation by building toilets,” the officer said.
Kiran Dighavkar has been entrusted with the responsibility to supervise the anti-open defecation campaign in the megapolis.
Expressing hope that Salman’s support will help the BMC, Kiran Dighavkar said, “Salman’s initiative in our efforts would definitely make our campaign’s reach wider. He has himself said that he lives in Mumbai and several times he himself has seen people defecating in open spaces, which doesn’t go with the pulse of the city.”
