Pune Clinches National Award and Five-Star Rating in Swachh Survekshan 2023
Pune, 8th January 2024: In a commendable achievement, Pune has secured a national award and a prestigious five-star rating in the ‘Swachh Survekshan 2023’ competition, affirming the city’s commitment to cleanliness. The award will be presented to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in a ceremony scheduled for Thursday in Delhi.
Sandeep Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of PMC’s Solid Waste Management Department, credited the city’s success to the ongoing efforts and initiatives undertaken by the PMC administration to ensure cleanliness. The city actively participated in the Swachh Survekshan 2023 competition, aligned with the Central Government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, aiming to secure a position among the top five cleanest cities.
The competition’s survey, conducted by the central government in late September, evaluated various cleanliness criteria, including household waste collection and waste sorting. Pune’s comprehensive performance across 24 different elements resulted in the city receiving a national award, elevating the confidence of the municipal administration.
Pune, alongside Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC) and Navi Mumbai (NMMC), has been invited by the central government to the award distribution event in Delhi. The city, already recognized as ‘open defecation-free,’ is striving to maintain its position in the top five rankings. PMC is determined to achieve even higher ratings, aiming for a seven-star and water-plus rating in the future.
Expressing pride in Pune being declared a national award recipient and obtaining a five-star certificate for the first time, Dr Kunal Khemmanar, Additional Commissioner, PMC, said, ‘The city’s continuous efforts and improvements have been recognized. We are committed to further enhancing our performance.’ He emphasized the significance of the Central Government’s acknowledgement of Pune’s achievements and reiterated the PMC’s dedication to ongoing enhancements.
