After a slip in rankings, Chandigarh gets its act together

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 24

To improve the rankings of the city, UT Adviser Dharam Pal today reviewed the action plan to be implemented for the ensuing Swachh Survekshan-2022 at a meeting here.

Chandigarh witnessed a sharp fall in the Swachh Survekshan-2021 rankings. The results were declared on Saturday. The rankings of the city dropped from last year’s 16th to 66th among 4,320 cities and slipped from last year’s eighth rank to 16th this year among cities with a population of over 10 lakh.

During the meeting, the indicators for Swachh Survekshan-2022 were discussed in detail, including the parameters and scheme of marking along with roles and responsibilities of the departments concerned of the UT Administration and the Municipal Corporation.

It was decided that screens would be placed/provided by the Engineering Department at a suitable distance from all choes to ensure that no solid waste was visible in these areas, besides capping the encroachments around storm water drains (choes), if any.

The Police Department has been asked to ensure removal and proper disposal of condemned/unclaimed vehicles parked in the public place throughout the city. Besides beautifying he bus queue shelters in the city, regular sanitation will be ensured around these shelters.

The Adviser directed the departments concerned to maintained proper cleanliness inside the vegetable market, Sector 26, and to review it periodically, besides submitting a progress report.

On the plastic ban, the Adviser directed to carry out an intensive campaign involving the authorities concerned such as the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), the Police Department and the MC to ensure strict enforcement of the ban on unauthorised plastic items.

Among other issues discussed was the processing of garbage collected from the city — dry waste and wet waste. The Adviser asked the MC Commissioner to upgrade the garbage processing plant so that the dry waste could be processed at full capacity. He also asked for completing the work of providing sanitary landfill at the Dadu Majra dumping site by December 31.

On construction and demolition (C&D) waste, the MC Commissioner said a toll-free number would be introduced shortly to lift the C&D waste from the doorstep of citizens and 23 locations had already been designated to collect C&D waste in segregated form — wood, soil, bricks and concrete.

The Adviser stressed the need for involving citizens and residents’ welfare associations in the Swachh Survekshan-2022 by intensifying the behavioral change campaign, besides conducting IEC activities.

He directed that all HODs concerned would hold review meetings at their level once in a week.

The meeting was attended by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Home Secretary, Vijay Namdeorao Zade, Finance Secretary, Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forests, Anindita Mitra, Commissioner, MC, and Vinay Pratap Singh, Deputy Commissioner, all Head of Departments of the UT Administration and the officers concerned of the MC.

Paintings in parks

To create awareness, murals and wall paintings will be made in parks in the city by depicting the message of the Swachh Bharat Mission and other informative messages.

Initiatives to be taken

• The Engineering Department will place screens at a suitable distance from all choes to ensure that no solid waste is visible in these areas
• The police will ensure removal and proper disposal of condemned/unclaimed vehicles parked in public place
• The departments concerned will ensure proper cleanliness inside the vegetable market, Sector 26
• The Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, the police and the MC will ensure strict enforcement of the ban on unauthorised plastic items
• Directions have been issued for immediate upgrade of the garbage processing plant so that dry waste can be processed at full capacity
• MC to introduce a toll-free number to lift C&D waste from the doorstep of citizens
• Citizens and RWAs to be involved in Swachh Survekshan-2022 by intensifying the behavioral change campaign
• Hospitals, hotels and the Jail and Social Welfare departments to take initiatives to reduce generation of waste under the 3R (reduce, reuse & recycle) principles

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