AAP, Congress councillors skip all-party meet to celebrate Chandigarh’s Swachh feat

Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla today called a meeting of councillors from all parties to celebrate Chandigarh’s stellar performance in the Swachh Survekshan 2024, where the city was honoured under the Super Swachh League category.

However, no councillor of the AAP and Congress turned up at the event, which the mayor said was called specifically to acknowledge the city’s collective achievement in cleanliness.

Vikrant A Tanwar, state media incharge, Aam Aadmi Party, Chandigarh, said the AAP boycotted the event. “When the city roads are broken, areas are waterlogged, people are drinking unsafe water and toxic leachate from Dadumajra dump is entering residential areas, holding celebrations is an insult to public pain,” he added.

City Congress president HS Lucky said the party had not boycotted the event. “Our councillors were busy in other works. Moreover, the invite for the event was received late,” he added.

The mayor extended congratulations to sanitation workers, officials and citizens, crediting their unified efforts. The councillors, too, applauded the tireless work of the MC staff in upholding high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Looking ahead to Swachh Survekshan-2025, the meeting focused on crafting a robust strategy to elevate the city’s cleanliness standards even further.

Babla urged councillors to lead by example in their wards by spearheading cleanliness awareness campaigns and encouraging public participation in the city’s sanitation efforts.