How Did Ahmedabad Become the Cleanest City in India?

New Delhi, July 17 (NationPress) Ahmedabad, which has risen to the forefront of the million-plus category, has been recognized as the cleanest city in India.

Bhopal and Lucknow closely followed in the rankings, while Indore, maintaining its top position for eight consecutive years, was promoted to the newly established Super Swachh League, a special rank reserved for cities demonstrating sustained excellence and a broader renaissance in municipal governance.

The Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards were presented on Thursday at Vigyan Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu.

This event, organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, highlighted a decade of advancements under the Swachh Bharat Mission and honored 78 cities across various population categories.

Bhopal and Lucknow were next in line after Ahmedabad, while Indore retained its national title for the eighth consecutive year and joined Surat and Navi Mumbai in the newly launched Super Swachh League.

Among the 43 national accolades awarded, Prayagraj received special recognition for its exceptional waste management during the Maha Kumbh, which saw an incredible 66 crore visitors.

Prayagraj was also honored as the Best Ganga Town, while Secunderabad Cantonment earned the title of Best Cantonment Board.

Noida, Chandigarh, and Mysuru topped the category for cities with populations between 3 to 10 lakhs.

Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were acknowledged as the Best 'Safai Mitra Surakshit Shehar' for their dedication to the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.

The ceremony acknowledged 78 cities across various population categories, with a total of 43 national awards presented.

The President praised the Ministry's focus on the 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' initiative and highlighted the waste-to-wealth memento—a Sarangi (an Indian musical instrument) made from recycled materials.

She discussed the circular economy as a foundation for youth empowerment, green jobs, and entrepreneurial energy.

Commending cities with populations under one lakh, she pointed out their remarkable standards in cleanliness and innovation.

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced the launch of the Swachh City Partnership initiative, where each top-performing city will mentor a lower-ranked city within its state.

He also introduced the 'Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme', a one-year campaign starting August 15, aimed at expediting the removal of legacy waste and enhancing scientific waste processing. Secretary Srinivas Katikithala reflected on the journey of Swachh Bharat, emphasizing how sanitation has become an integral part of citizens' values.

The revised survey framework, incorporating ten new parameters and five population tiers, has fostered equitable competition among cities of different sizes.

The event concluded with the digital launch of the 'Swachh Survekshan Results Dashboard' and engaging audio-visual presentations showcasing the achievements of Super Swachh League Cities.

In a statement from Spain, where he is seeking investments for Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav praised the state's performance.

He applauded the efforts of sanitation workers and employees on his social media platform, celebrating Indore's ongoing supremacy, Ujjain's success in the mid-sized category, and Budni's recognition among the smallest towns.

Bhopal’s impressive second-place national ranking, along with awards for Jabalpur and Gwalior, further confirmed the state's commitment to urban excellence.