Swachh Survekshan rankings: Civic body officials elated but residents feel long way to go

Despite the deteriorating waste management and sanitation situation in Amritsar, the city has secured 30th rank at the national level and 17th in the state list in the recently announced Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings. This two-position improvement over last year has surprised local residents, who find the survey results hard to believe given the visible decline in civic services after the exit of the private solid waste management company, Averda.

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The survey, conducted around four to five months back during the winter season, presented a relatively better picture of the city’s sanitation scenario, when sewer water problems were minimal and Averda was still handling waste collection and processing. After the company’s departure, garbage collection has become irregular, and the city’s streets and dumpsites show clear signs of neglect.

However, officials of the Municipal Corporation Amritsar (MCA) are treating the rankings as a significant achievement. Municipal Health Officer Dr Kiran Kumar stated that compared to Punjab’s industrial hub Ludhiana, Amritsar has performed substantially better across most cleanliness and waste management indicators.

“In the national list, Amritsar secured the 30th rank against Ludhiana’s 39th. At the state level, Amritsar holds 17th position, while Ludhiana has slipped to a dismal 144th rank. In terms of a total score out of 12,500 points, Amritsar accumulated 8,173, ahead of Ludhiana’s 5,272. Key cleanliness parameters show Amritsar outpacing Ludhiana in crucial areas. Amritsar’s waste processing rate stands at 99 per cent, dumpsite remediation at 41 per cent, and water body cleanliness at 100 per cent. Public toilet cleanliness in Amritsar also scores higher at 83 per cent, compared to Ludhiana’s 53 per cent,” said Dr Kiran Kumar.

Interestingly, Ludhiana fares better in door-to-door waste collection, covering 89 per cent of households, compared to Amritsar’s 75 per cent. But in source segregation, both cities lag, with Amritsar at 7 per cent and Ludhiana slightly behind at 6 per cent.