Chandigarh Mayor launches cleanliness, waste management drive

Mayor Saurabh Joshi launched the campaign at Community Centre, Sector 15, in the presence of MC Commissioner Amit Kumar, Councillor Gurbax Rawat and MC Joint Commissioner Himanshu Gupta. Office-bearers of Market Welfare Associations and Resident Welfare Associations were also present on the occasion.

The primary objective of the campaign is to create mass awareness among citizens about cleanliness, scientific waste management and sustainable living practices. Under the initiative, MC teams will conduct door-to-door awareness drives, interact with residents and distribute pamphlets detailing waste segregation at source.

The Mayor and Commissioner personally visited households in Sector 15, appealing to residents to follow waste segregation guidelines and motivate others to do the same in order to keep the city clean. Citizens were educated on segregating waste into four different dustbins and adopting zero-waste practices at the household level.

Residents were also sensitised about the importance of zero-waste events, reducing food wastage and home composting using kitchen and vegetable waste, which not only reduces the burden on dumping sites but also benefits households.

Special emphasis was laid on zero-waste markets and commercial areas, with shopkeepers and vendors encouraged to ensure proper waste management and maintain cleanliness in market spaces.

Addressing the gathering, Joshi said cleanliness begins at home and that active citizen participation is the cornerstone of success in Swachh Survekshan. He urged residents to strictly adhere to waste segregation norms, adopt in-house composting and reduce the quantity of waste sent to dumping grounds.

The mayor appealed to citizens to make cleanliness a daily habit and work collectively to uphold Chandigarh’s identity as a clean and green city.

Highlighting the social and environmental impact of reuse and recycling, the mayor also spoke about donating old items such as shoes, crockery, clothes, books and other household goods through MC Chandigarh’s ‘Swachh Sawari’ initiative. These donated items are refurbished and distributed to the needy through One Rupee Stores. He emphasised that such initiatives play a significant role in promoting cleanliness while supporting social welfare.

Speaking on the occasion, the commissioner stated that citizens play a crucial role in helping municipal bodies strictly implement Municipal Solid Waste Management rules.