Ahmedabad sparkles as the cleanest big city in India, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Ahmedabad ranked as the cleanest city with a population of over 10 lakh, followed by Bhopal and Lucknow.
• Indore, Surat, Navi Mumbai, and Vijayawada joined the new “Super Swachh League” for consistent performance.
• Prayagraj won the award for Best Ganga Town, and Secunderabad Cantonment for best sanitation among cantonment boards.
• Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur recognized as Best Saifai Mitra Surakshit Shehar for sanitation worker safety.
• Mira-Bhayandar, Bilaspur, and Jamshedpur topped the 3–10 lakh population category.
• The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, with 66 crore footfall, was lauded for urban waste management.
• The 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach and circular economy model were prominently promoted.

Detailed Insights:

• The Swachh Survekshan introduced a new category, “Swachh Shahar”, to highlight newly emerging clean cities.
• The “Super Swachh League” was created to reward cities that have sustained cleanliness excellence over the years.
• The survey covered over 4,500 cities with 14 crore participants engaging via surveys, apps, and platforms like MyGov.
• The “One City, One Award” system ensured equal opportunity for cities by limiting multiple awards to a single city.
• Waste-to-wealth initiatives were showcased, and President Droupadi Murmu endorsed the concept as core to circular economy.
• Recognition of sanitation workers' safety reflects growing attention to inclusive urban governance and dignified labour.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Swachh Survekshan: An annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Government of India to rank cities on sanitation and hygiene.
• 3R Principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle): A waste minimisation strategy promoting circular economy and sustainable resource use.
• Circular Economy: An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and continuously using resources through regeneration.