Karnal MC working to achieve 5-star Garbage Free City rating
Aiming at improving its ranking in Swachh Survekshan-2024, the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) is focusing on achieving 5-star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating and Water Plus status. The KMC had failed to secure any rating in the GFC category during Swachh Survekshan-2023. Karnal city experienced a significant decline in its ranking in the Swachh Survekshan-2023, dropping 30 points compared to the ranking in 2022. It got 115th rank among cities with a population above one lakh in the 2023 survey and 85th rank in 2022 among 4,354 cities in the 1-10 lakh population category. Previously, Karnal ranked 86th in Swachh Survekshan 2021, 17th in 2020, 24th in 2019, 41st in 2018, and 65th in 2017.
During the Swachh Survekshan-2023, Karnal performed exceptionally well in the ODF (Open Defecation Free) certification category and earned Water Plus status. It scored 5,736 points out of a total of 9,500 across different categories, surpassing the state and national averages of 2,959 and 3,526, respectively. The city excelled in door-to-door waste collection, cleanliness of residential and market areas and water body maintenance, achieving scores of 93 per cent, 95 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively. Additionally, it received 74 per cent marks for waste segregation at the source, 45 per cent for waste processing and 83 per cent for public toilet cleanliness. Residents' feedback also played a significant role, contributing to 1,586.71 marks, above the state and national averages of 979.61 and 1,122.78, respectively. The poor processing of garbage at the plant, however, was cited as a major reason for the city’s decline, as it is a critical parameter for achieving a GFC rating.
KMC Commissioner Vaishali Sharma recently held a meeting with sanitation branch officials, urging them to make concerted efforts to achieve the targets. “We are working to achieve the Water Plus tag and secure a 5-star GFC rating. To achieve this, we have made the city dustbin-free, covered open nullahs, and beautified public toilets with wall paintings,” said Ashok Kumar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.
He also shared plans to install 40 twin waste bins at various locations. “We are already doing well in terms of waste segregation at the source, door-to-door waste collection and thorough cleaning of residential and commercial areas. We are promoting the reuse of treated water for purposes such as gardening, irrigation, industrial needs, construction and road cleaning. Resident feedback remains crucial in improving our rating,” he added.
To promote the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R) principles, the corporation has established a Waste-to-Wonder Park in Sector 13, featuring benches, chairs and planters made from waste materials. “Plans are also underway to replicate such initiatives in other parks,” he said. Satish Sharma, XEN of KMC, highlighted the corporation’s efforts in the Water Plus category by using treated water for various purposes. He said that the 8 MLD sewage treatment plants (STPs) at Kambopura and Shiv Colony, the 20-MLD STP at Phoosgarh and the 50-MLD STP in Sector-4 are operational. Treated water is being used for irrigation and spraying roads to control dust in response to pollution. The Irrigation Department is also working to supply treated water to farmers’ fields for agricultural use. “These efforts will help us in achieving the Water Plus status,” he added.
