Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Launches Intensive Cleanliness Drive
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has officially inaugurated a comprehensive awareness campaign titled "Har Ghar, Har Dawar Swachhta Ki Dastak" as part of the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 initiative. This drive aims to foster mass awareness regarding cleanliness, scientific waste management, and sustainable living practices across the city.
High-Profile Launch with Civic Leaders
Mayor Saurabh Joshi formally launched the campaign at the Community Centre in Sector 15, with Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar, Councillor Gurbax Rawat, Joint Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Gupta, and representatives from various market and resident welfare associations in attendance. In his address, Mayor Joshi emphasized that "cleanliness begins at home" and highlighted the critical role of citizen participation in achieving success in the Swachh Survekshan rankings.
He urged residents to strictly adhere to waste segregation norms, reduce overall waste generation, and implement in-house composting to minimize the volume of garbage directed to dumping grounds. The mayor also appealed to the community to make cleanliness a daily habit, working collectively to preserve Chandigarh's reputation as a clean and green city.
Commissioner Stresses Public Cooperation and Home Composting
Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar underscored that cleanliness drives can yield lasting results only with robust public cooperation. He stated that citizens play a pivotal role in assisting municipal authorities to effectively implement the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules. Commissioner Kumar also stressed the importance of home composting, noting that it not only strengthens the city's cleanliness efforts but also provides long-term environmental and economic benefits to households.
Door-to-Door Outreach and Educational Initiatives
As part of this initiative, Municipal Corporation teams will conduct extensive door-to-door outreach programs throughout the city. These teams will interact directly with residents to sensitize them about the necessity of waste segregation at the source. Additionally, they will distribute informative pamphlets detailing proper waste management practices to ensure widespread understanding and compliance.
Following the launch event, Mayor Joshi and Commissioner Kumar visited several households in Sector 15, personally appealing to residents to strictly follow waste segregation guidelines and motivate their neighbors to adopt similar practices. They specifically urged the segregation of waste into four distinct categories and encouraged the adoption of zero-waste practices at the household level.
Focus on Zero-Waste Practices and Community Engagement
Municipal officials are actively sensitizing residents on the importance of organizing zero-waste events, reducing food wastage, and adopting home composting using kitchen and vegetable waste. They explained that home composting not only alleviates the burden on dumping sites but also offers significant environmental and economic advantages to individual households.
Special emphasis is being placed on ensuring zero-waste practices in markets and commercial areas. Officials have urged shopkeepers and vendors to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and ensure proper disposal and segregation of waste generated in market spaces.
Promoting Reuse, Recycling, and Plastic Reduction
Highlighting the social and environmental benefits of reuse and recycling, Mayor Joshi encouraged residents to donate old and usable items such as shoes, crockery, clothes, books, and other household goods through MC Chandigarh's 'Swachh Sawari' initiative. He noted that these items are refurbished and distributed to the needy through One Rupee Stores, thereby promoting cleanliness alongside social welfare.
The mayor also urged citizens to avoid single-use plastics, dispose of plastic waste responsibly, and switch to environmentally friendly alternatives in their daily lives, reinforcing the campaign's holistic approach to sustainable urban living.
