New Delhi, Jan 11, 2024: In a historic tie, Indore and Surat have dethroned each other to jointly claim the title of India’s cleanest city in the prestigious Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023. This marks the seventh consecutive win for Indore, while Surat celebrates its first-ever top spot.
Both cities impressed judges with their impeccable performance, achieving 100% door-to-door waste collection, 98% source segregation, and complete remediation of dumpsites. The rankings, encompassing cities with populations exceeding 1 lakh, assess several factors, including cleanliness of public areas, water bodies, and citizen feedback.
Maharashtra emerged as the cleanest state for the year, with impressive scores in door-to-door collection (89.24%) and source segregation (67.76%). Madhya Pradesh secured the second position, followed by Chhattisgarh.
President Droupadi Murmu, who graced the award ceremony, emphasized the importance of waste-to-wealth creation and underscored the harmful impact of legacy dumpsites on health. She commended the Swachh Bharat Mission’s efforts in addressing these issues.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the significant increase in scientific waste processing, from 15-16% in 2014 to 76% in 2023. Secretary Manoj Joshi acknowledged the continuing challenge of manual sewer cleaning and stressed on its complete elimination.
The 2023 survey covered 4,416 urban local bodies, 61 cantonments, and 88 Ganga towns, reflecting a significant expansion since its inception in 2016. With over 1.58 crore online citizen feedbacks and 19.82 lakh face-to-face responses, the survey remains a comprehensive measure of India’s urban sanitation landscape.
This year’s awards underscore the remarkable progress India has made in the pursuit of cleaner cities. The joint top spot and impressive performances across states showcase a growing commitment to hygiene and environmental well-being, paving the way for a healthier and more sustainable future.
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