Mumbai drops to 37th in National Cleanliness Survey; BMC promises improvements in the future
Mumbai, India’s financial capital, recently experienced a decline in the National Cleanliness Survey rankings, to 37th position. This prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-evaluate its strategies and promise better performance in upcoming surveys.
Maharashtra: In a recent national cleanliness survey, India’s financial capital Mumbai has witnessed a decline in its ranking and has fallen to the 37th position. The survey, which evaluates various parameters related to cleanliness and sanitation, has prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-evaluate its strategies and promise better performance in the upcoming surveys.
Which led to the demise of Mumbai’s rankings
The survey, conducted annually to gauge cleanliness levels in cities in India, revealed a decline in Mumbai’s ranking compared to previous years. The assessment took into account factors such as waste management, sanitary infrastructure and general cleanliness. While Mumbai has long been known for its vibrant culture and economic prowess, the recent decline in cleanliness rankings has raised concerns among citizens and civic authorities alike.
BMC, the governing body responsible for the governance of Mumbai, has recognized the need for urgent measures to address the cleanliness challenges faced by the city. In a press release issued today, BMC assured citizens that they take the survey results seriously and are committed to implementing effective strategies to improve cleanliness.
Top scorers of the survey
Sasvad in Maharashtra bagged the coveted title of the cleanest city among 3,970 cities with a population under one lakh, according to the recent survey results. Chhattisgarh’s Patan secured the second position, followed by the picturesque hill station of Lonavala in Pune district at the third position. At the other end of the spectrum, Pungro city in Nagaland was at the bottom of the cleanliness rankings in this category.
At a ceremony graced by President Murmu and attended by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, awards were presented to the deserving winners. The Swachh Survekshan 2023 witnessed the participation of 4,477 urban local bodies, with twelve key citizen responses shaping the evaluation process.
Strategies of BMC to maintain a clean environment
“We have made extensive efforts (to improve cleanliness) and hence we will achieve much better performance next year,” said Dr Sudhakar Shinde, Additional Municipal Commissioner.
The action plan proposed by BMC includes increasing the number of waste separation and processing units in the city, deploying additional sanitation workers and launching awareness campaigns to educate residents on the importance of maintaining a clean environment. BMC has also urged citizens to actively participate in the drive for cleanliness by adopting responsible waste disposal practices and promptly reporting any issues related to cleanliness.
Mumbai’s decline in cleanliness rankings serves as a wake-up call for both the authorities and residents of the city. As the BMC gears up for an intensive cleanup drive, all eyes are on the city to see if the promised improvements will translate into a higher ranking in the next national cleanup survey.