Damini Sharma
North News
Chandigarh, September 30
The cleanliness drive launched by the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh in Sector 34 requires better coordination to achieve meaningful results. During a visit by the North News team, it was observed that a significant amount of garbage remained on the ground, including waste from the weekly mandis held here and litter left by individuals. Local residents and shop owners expressed disappointment, stating that despite the claims made during the initiative, the reality reflects that the drive appears more like a formality rather than a genuine effort.
The mega cleanliness event kicked off in the morning with the aim of promoting sanitation and community involvement. Senior officials from the Municipal Corporation and health department attended, and students from local schools participated as well, aided by volunteers from the Lion’s company. However, the results were less than satisfactory.
This drive holds additional significance as Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged citizens to engage in a nationwide cleanliness initiative in honour of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. He announced that on October 1, beginning at 10 a.m., people across the country are encouraged to join the cleanliness campaign, emphasizing that “Swachh Bharat is a shared responsibility.”
The Municipal Corporation had previously stated that the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 campaign would mark the tenth anniversary of this initiative, which has been held annually since 2014. This campaign aims to facilitate deep cleaning across residential areas, commercial spaces, schools, parks, and various public venues until October 2. The focus is on three main pillars: public participation, comprehensive cleanliness initiatives, and preventive health checkups for sanitation workers.
While there is hope for more effective outcomes in future campaigns, organizers maintain that they have made every effort to clean the area according to their planned schedule. However, significant efforts are still required to make a cleaner Chandigarh.
