In a significant push to elevate its national ranking in urban cleanliness, the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation (GMC) orchestrated a large-scale public sanitation campaign on Sunday. The drive, themed 'A New Initiative for Cleanliness – Badhayen Hath, Karen Safai Sath', marks a crucial step in the city's preparations for the upcoming Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 assessments.
Massive Participation and Swift Action
The initiative witnessed remarkable mobilization, with over 1,500 participants joining hands to clean the city. The force included around 500 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel, elected councillors, municipal officials, Safai Mitras, and designated Swachhata Champions. The drive was led personally by Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Singh Sograwal and SP City Abhinav Tyagi, underscoring its administrative importance.
Operations were conducted simultaneously across three major locations in the city: the legacy waste site at Ekla Bandha, Ramgarh Tal (Nauka Vihar), and Vindhyavasini Park. The results were swift and substantial. Within just a few hours, officials reported that nearly 40 acres of land were cleared of accumulated waste.
Scientific Waste Management and Green Transformation
A key focus of the drive was on managing non-biodegradable waste. Volunteers collected approximately 1,800 kilograms of single-use plastic and other non-biodegradable materials. This waste was not merely disposed of; it was systematically transported using 20 special vehicles to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for scientific processing and recycling, ensuring an environmentally responsible conclusion to the cleanup.
Beyond physical cleaning, the campaign had a strong educational and ecological component. To engage and sensitize citizens, an innovative magic show was used to convey messages of sanitation and public responsibility. Furthermore, plantation drives were initiated at the cleaned sites, aiming to transform these areas into green, aesthetically pleasing, and tourism-friendly zones.
Building Momentum for National Recognition
Addressing the participants, Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Singh Sograwal emphasized that the core objective of the initiative is to ensure active and sustained public participation in the city's cleanliness movement. He expressed strong confidence that with such concerted efforts, Gorakhpur is poised to make a powerful bid for the top position in the Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 rankings.
This mega drive represents a holistic approach to urban sanitation, combining immediate action with long-term strategies for waste management, public awareness, and environmental conservation. It sets a proactive tone for Gorakhpur's campaign in the national cleanliness survey.
