J&K achieves milestone in Swachh Bharat Rankings; Jammu, Beerwah shine

Srinagar, Jul 17: J&K has recorded a significant improvement in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings, with Jammu Municipal Corporation emerging as the cleanest city in the Union Territory.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, announced the results on July 17 after an exhaustive field assessment conducted in April and May by an independent agency.

Jammu has not only topped the UT in cleanliness but also secured the prestigious 3-Star Garbage-Free City (GFC) certification under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0. Additionally, the city received the ‘Promising Swachh Shehar’ award in recognition of its sustained efforts in waste management, sanitation infrastructure, and citizen engagement.

The Swachh Survekshan, India’s largest annual urban cleanliness survey, assesses cities on key indicators such as waste management systems, sanitation facilities, citizen feedback, and compliance with cleanliness protocols. Its goal is to make urban areas cleaner, greener, and more livable through active participation from civic bodies and residents.

A notable achievement came from the Municipal Committee Beerwah, which earned the 1-Star Garbage-Free City rating—reflecting growing awareness and implementation of cleanliness protocols in smaller towns across the UT.

The overall performance of Jammu & Kashmir’s Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) showed remarkable progress this year. Seventy ULBs have now achieved Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+) status, while two have reached ODF++ status. These milestones point to significant improvements in sanitation infrastructure, waste segregation, and behavioral change among residents.

The success has been credited to the Housing and Urban Development Department, led by Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Mandeep Kaur, which serves as the implementing agency of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 in J&K. The department’s consistent push for scientific waste management, grassroots engagement, and capacity building has helped Urban Local Bodies across the UT make substantial progress.

Dr Devansh Yadav, Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation and MD SBM, received the award in New Delhi from the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs on behalf of the UT. The recognition reinforces J&K’s commitment to building sustainable, garbage-free urban centres aligned with the broader goals of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0.