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Indore is a city in Madhya Pradesh that is considered to be the cleanest city in India according to the Indian government’s Swachh Survekshan yearly rankings. The city has had the top spot in the cleanliness stakes for five consecutive years. However, it is not just the steps taken by the local authorities that make it a clean city; the citizens also play a great role in keeping it clean.
What Makes Indore The Cleanest City In India?
Indore’s journey to becoming a clean city in India started with the municipal corporation’s introduction of door-to-door garbage collection in 2016. Interestingly, the city has a systematic process for waste segregation at the source. This means the garbage goes to different dumping grounds or landfill sites, depending on its nature. The local authorities have identified the gaps that have the ability to turn the city into a landfill and are now working on addressing them. The key to success for Indore has been its ability to focus on sustainability rather than just ‘Clean India’.
The people of Indore have also played a pivotal role in making their city clean and green. NGOs, people, governmental bodies, and schools participate in this campaign. From constructing public toilets and waste disposals to planting trees, all citizens engage themselves in some way or another. Let’s dig a little deep into the exact initiatives that the city has taken to make it clean and livable.
Household Waste Segregation
Implementing the D2D collection system has resulted in a drastic reduction of garbage in the city. Wet waste, non-plastic, electronics, plastics, biomedical, and hazardous waste are disposed of at different landfill sites. This mere bifurcation has helped the city’s practical and scientific waste management. This makes us wonder about the number of bi-products supporting the entire city of Indore in the journey of becoming sustainable.
Eliminating Open Defecation System
Indore has made exemplary efforts to become an open defecation-free city. The specially-appointed cleaning staff has pin-downed 72 Frequent Open Defecation Spots (FODS) in the city. Moreover, this doesn’t end here. The city’s authorities further imply the necessary rules and regulations to ensure that people use FODS. Hundreds of families living in slums were relocated to vacant Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) premises in only a year to improve the standard of living. Finally, introducing strict fines and penalties has reduced defecating in the open.
Public Toilets in the Cleanest City in India
The authorities understand the importance of having enough public toilets and investing in their construction. As of now, the city has 128 community toilets, 189 public toilets, modular toilets, and 17 mobile toilets. The city authorities are also taking measures to ensure that these public toilets are clean and well-maintained. From private to public gatherings, political or cultural, the provision of toilets on such occasions is the top priority.
Creating Awareness
Clean India cannot be achieved without spreading awareness. For this, the municipal corporation of Indore has been working hard. From school students and youth to senior citizens, all are targeted by different campaigns and events. Moreover, the citizens of Indore became the stakeholders of the Clean Indore Campaign. This created a sense of responsibility among the citizens and helped in maintaining the city’s cleanliness to some extent. No infrastructure alone can make a city clean. It is the citizens who have to take responsibility and work together to make their city clean and livable.
Plastic Waste Collection
Rag pickers in the city of Indore play an essential role in collecting plastic waste. While working at the plastic waste collection center, these rag pickers get help from several NGOs, Sarthak and Basix, that provide them with the necessary resources and equipment. Surprisingly, the waste is used in two processes: first at a cement plant in Neemuch and second by the M.P. Rural Road Development Board for road construction. The praiseworthy endeavour is that about ten routes in the municipal corporation have been built with this method.
Mechanized Road Cleaning
The Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) is a massive health and environmental problem in the city of Indore. To put an end to this, there is an IMC mechanized road cleaning system. Further, Elgin Sweeper Company’s (USA) machines clean the main roads of Indore. They not only have the powerful suction power to lift up the waste but also have strong brushes. These brushes help in cleaning the sides of the roads. From 10 pm to 6 am, a total of 450-500 Km of road sweeping happens daily. Frequent air monitoring helps to check the atmosphere and AQI index under a healthy bracket. Moreover, the entire cleaning process is based on a stringent schedule.
Gap Assessment
Usually, a gap assessment is done to determine what the present situation is as compared to the desired or target position. This helps in preparing an action plan accordingly. From assessing the situation years ago to finding out the present status every year, the concerned officials have been very active in this area. The reports help them understand their achievements so far and the area for improvement.
Future of Indore As The Cleanest City in India
With all the measures mentioned above, Indore has been declared the “Cleanest City of India” five times to date. Moreover, the city plans to reach untouched or overlooked areas. Furthermore, the mere installation of AQI measuring equipment at prime locations and frequent vehicular pollution checks is something that is on the cards.
Conclusion
Anyone who wonders why Indore is the cleanest city in India, what the administration implements to make it that way, or how many times it has won the title might get answers in this article. From infrastructure to citizen participation to regular monitoring, all play an essential role in making the township what it is. Not to forget, as a citizen of the country, small steps like using dustbins, etc., can also help in making the surroundings clean and livable.
