2025 Swachh rankings: New Delhi among India's best, but rest of city suffers
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which governs the majority of the city's area and population, ranked 31st out of 44 urban local bodies (ULBs) in the million-plus population category. Meanwhile, the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) slipped to 30th place out of 58 cantonment boards – a sharp decline from its 7th position last year.
This year's survey saw participation from 4,589 ULBs across India, making it the largest cleanliness audit to date. The survey evaluated cities on a new scale of 12,500 points (up from 9,500 in previous editions of the survey) across key metrics such as visible cleanliness, waste segregation, sanitation, wastewater management, and welfare of sanitation workers.
Delhi's 1,483 sq km area is divided among three ULBs: MCD, which governs 1,397 sq. km; NDMC, covering the Lutyens' zone; and DCB, which handles the cantonment area.
While NDMC (along with Noida) earned its place in the 'Super Swachh League' with high scores across all indicators, MCD scored only 7,920 out of 12,500 points. Cities like Meerut, Aligarh, Patna, and Agra fared better, while only Srinagar and Bengaluru performed worse in the same category.
Experts said that the findings of the 2024-25 cleanliness survey paint a stark picture of a city divided. While NDMC's limited geography, affluent population, and rigorous civic governance help it stand out, the rest of Delhi continues to grapple with chronic issues—unplanned urbanisation, weak policy enforcement, and lack of civic participation.
Behind Delhi's rankings
Landfill clean up: MCD's poor ranking is partly due to its underwhelming performance in this category. It scored just 56% in dumpsite remediation. The biomining and bioremediation projects at the three major landfill sites – Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur – have missed several deadlines since their inception in 2019, despite being mandated by the National Green Tribunal. New extended deadlines range between July 2026 and December 2027.
MCD also scored poorly in segregation (56%) and waste processing (51%). Though source segregation is legally mandated, its on-ground implementation remains minimal. Of the 11,328 tonnes of waste generated daily in Delhi, MCD areas account for over 11,000 tonnes, yet a large portion remains unsegregated and ends up in already saturated landfills.
Water body cleanliness: Delhi's performance in the cleanliness of water bodies was dismal, with the MCD securing only 27% marks. This indicates a significant lapse in maintaining or restoring the city's numerous natural and artificial water bodies.
Market cleanliness: MCD scored relatively better in door-to-door waste collection and cleanliness in market areas—indicating some success in daily maintenance tasks, though large-scale infrastructure and systemic reforms are still lacking.
Fall in cantonment rank: The Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB), which managed to secure the 7th spot among 62 boards last year, has now fallen to 30th. DCB fared poorly in crucial areas like door-to-door collection, waste segregation, and processing.
Why NDMC excels
Officials said that NDMC's consistent high ranking reflected a combination of factors: a smaller, more manageable jurisdiction; higher budget allocation per capita; and a proactive administrative approach. The Lutyens' zone also benefits from a well-planned layout, better infrastructure, and limited population pressure compared to MCD areas.
Keshav Chandra, Chairman of NDMC, attributed the success to the 'relentless hard work' of the civic body's employees, particularly sanitation workers. Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal highlighted the role of public cooperation: 'The collaborative spirit of the community has been pivotal in achieving this honour.'
Independent experts agreed.
Atin Biswas, programme director of the municipal solid waste sector at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said That NDMC has completely different conditions with very rich local body, high infrastructure and human resources compared to the rest of the city.
'NDMC has no landfills, as it sends all its waste to municipal corporation areas. Its situation is not comparable to the rest of the city,' he said.
While MCD officials are yet to issue a formal statement, civic activists and residents' groups have criticised both the administration and the public for the city's poor performance.
Atul Goyal, president of URJA (United RWAs Joint Action), said, 'There is a collective failure of both agencies and citizens to own the city. Door-to-door collection and waste segregation are more on paper than in practice. Policies have not been effectively implemented at the ground level.'
Goyal also criticised the shift toward large-scale incineration projects rather than decentralized waste management solutions. 'Delhi has practically given up on segregation. The focus has shifted to burning waste instead of processing it responsibly. What we need is a decentralised model that processes waste at the ward level – this alone can reduce transport costs, pollution, and landfill dependency.'
Bharati Chaturvedi, environmentalist and founder of Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group said that MCD has done badly and it must re-look its contracting system. 'The failure of the contracting system is that the private contractors have incentive to take more waste to landfills. It should be the other way round. The incentive should be to take inert waste. Recyclable waste and wet waste being taken to landfill sites should be disincentivised,' she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Chinar from France survives Delhi weather, Chinese camphor struggles
In October 2023, saplings were planted at Nehru Park in New Delhi's diplomatic enclave Chanakyapuri to mark India's year-long G20 presidency, seen as a reflection of the country's ascendance on the global stage. Chinar tree planted at Nehru Park in New Delhi's Chanakyapuri. (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) Envoys and representatives of the member nations planted saplings of national significance after the leaders of the G20 nations gathered in New Delhi for the grandest event the city had hosted since the 2010 Commonwealth Games. A chinar, perhaps Delhi's lone such tree, now stands out among those planted in 2023 at the park under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) jurisdiction. It has defied the adverse hot weather and grown 10 feet high two years after the French envoy planted it. The chinar also survived an insect attack and has grown woody with new sprouting branches. The Netherlands' apple tree is also flourishing. Chinar (Platanus Orientalis) and apple trees commonly thrive in cool regions such as Kashmir. Also read | Delhi breathes its cleanest July air in 10 years Most of the plants are doing well despite challenges such as bugs and squirrels. Experts have, meanwhile, pointed out that the one identified as African mahogany (Nigeria) is jamun (Syzygium cumini). A weeping willow from the UK and the US's queen crepe myrtle were on the verge of becoming full-scale trees. The German winterlinde and Australian golden wattle have also responded well. Each tree requires a different climate and environment to thrive. Their natural habitat ranges from the Mediterranean and desert to tropical and subtropical environments. Squirrels, insects, and rain posed significant challenges to the growth of the trees. Olive trees from Italy and Spain were doing better. Two date palms from Egypt and Saudi Arabia have adapted well, growing up to six feet. Some of the trees have not been as hardy in the face of Delhi's extreme weather. A leafless frankincense (Oman) appears dead. The silver tree from South Korea has barely grown. A mango sapling from Bangladesh and a yellowwood (South Africa) have almost dried up. Environmentalist Pradip Krishen, the author of the book 'Trees of Delhi', said the idea of introducing exotic species has never worked well. 'They may survive, but they will never thrive. This is likely to be the case with the Chinar,' Krishen said. He said the plant shown as African mahogany (Nigeria) was a jamun. Faiyaz Khudsar, who heads the Delhi Development Authority's biodiversity parks project, also said that the plant appears to be jamun and not African mahogany. Chandan Tiwary, who has been documenting trees in Delhi, said he was surprised to find a jamun growing where an African mahogany tree should have been. 'Most trees are doing well. The chinar has grown. The olive trees also appear to be doing well. On the flip side, the silver tree is having a hard time. The Chinese camphor laurel is also struggling, but is likely to survive,' Tiwari said. He added that several trees were not doing so well a year back. 'A lot of them had dried up back then. Some are likely to have been replaced with new saplings,' he said. An NDMC official said that the civic body had no role in the plantation or replacement of the saplings, and that they were only involved in protecting and basic upkeep. 'The ministry of external affairs (MEA) got these trees planted through an external agency. They brought the of these plants have done well with chinar becoming a unique addition to the garden.' There was no immediate response from MEA. People familiar with the matter said the plant shown as mahogany was indeed brought from Nigeria. The Nigerian high commission did not respond to queries on the matter. The saplings were kept in a double-layered protection, including a four-foot metallic cylindrical tree guard and a six-foot cuboidal geonet contraption bolted shut from all sides with the help of a white net. Most of the plants have outgrown the protective mini-enclosures. The top layer of the closed nets has been removed, as the plants have settled down.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
African Mahogany or Jamun: Doubts grow root over Nigeria's G20 Summit present
At the first glance, it isn't easy to spot the African Mahogany, presented by Nigeria during the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023, at the Nehru Park. Tucked inside a white mesh enclosure, the sapling is nearly waist-high with pale green, elongated leaves on its slender branches. A small bilingual plaque fixed behind a green fence identifies it as Khaya Senegalensis or African Mahogany, presented by Nigeria. The park itself has been a picture of monsoon calm. The lawns glisten after a light drizzle, neatly trimmed hedges line the walking paths, and several of the 17 ceremonial saplings stand protected in similar netted enclosures. But this particular sapling has now become the subject of scrutiny. On Monday, DelhiTrees, a citizen-run page on X, posted images of the sapling. The post read: 'The so called African Mahogany, planted in Nehru Park during G-20, turned out to be a Jamun.' The post has garnered over 28 lakh views since then as it suggested that a native species was planted amid a diplomatic gesture. Questions sent to the Nigerian High Commission regarding the identity of the tree did not elicit a response at the time of publication. On the claims, a senior horticulture official from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), who was associated with the G20 plantation drive, told The Indian Express: 'The sapling at the site marked as African Mahogany has been brought to our attention. At this stage, a confirmation (on its identification) is possible only after it is examined by experts.' Officials at the NDMC stressed that their role was limited to logistical support for the event. 'We prepared the space, dug pits, and ensured protection after the planting. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) coordinated the event and provided the saplings,' said the official quoted above. Another NDMC senior official, who pleaded anonymity, expressed caution, 'It is too soon to jump to conclusion. The species could be a native variety…this will be ascertained.' 'The plantation was carried out by embassy teams. If there has been a mismatch, it could be due to a communication issue. We will assist in checking the matter. So far, no other such discrepancies have been reported from that event,' the official said. Sources in the MEA said that the sapling was quarantined and presented by Nigeria. In the case of a mismatch, sources added. the responsibility would lie with the presenting country. 'We have started a probe after coming across the social media post. Documents related to the plants have been rechecked and we are in touch with the NDMC. The verification of the species will be undertaken and completed in a few days,' the source said. All foreign saplings brought for the ceremonial drive were required to clear phytosanitary inspections, in a bid to ensure they are free from pests, and were quarantined for over three months at the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) in Pusa before plantation. A Delhi-based environmentalist said, 'There is a huge difference between Jamun and African Mahogany. The Jamun tree has simple leaf arrangement and Mahogany has pinnate or compound leaves. There is no resemblance in both the species. It is likely that the officials didn't have the knowledge.' At the 2023 ceremonial drive, saplings symbolised bilateral ties and sustainability: Olive from Turkey, Spain and Italy; Real Yellowwood from South Africa; Silver Tree from South Korea; Date Palm from Egypt and Saudi Arabia; Teak from Indonesia; Camphor Laurel from China; and trees from the African Union, including the Sausage Tree and Red Frangipani. On Tuesday, when The Indian Express did a spot check, even as several saplings were found to be healthy, others showed signs of strain. The leaves of an Arjun tree donated by Canada were visibly perforated by insects. The Gular tree gifted by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), as well as the Apple HR99 variety from the Netherlands were apparently infested. The Sycamore from France, Queen's Crepe Myrtle from the US, and Weeping Willow from the UK are in similar condition. The Teak tree from Indonesia stands visibly bent. While Olive trees, among others, are carefully placed in netted enclosures, Silver Tree from South Korea, despite its cover, had holes chewed into the netting by squirrels.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Month-long cleanliness drive ahead of Independence Day
NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will roll out a month-long cleanliness drive themed 'Swachhta se Swatantrata tak' from August 1 as part of Independence Day celebrations, aiming to promote civic responsibility, environmental awareness, and citizen engagement. It includes cleanliness and beautification drives, cultural programmes, and community outreach. Activities will span schools, markets, religious places, colonies, and government buildings. Departments have been assigned specific roles to ensure coordinated efforts during the drive. The Health Department will lead sanitation drives in crowded locations such as JJ clusters and temples while Civil Engineering Department will oversee cleaning of lakes, pavement repairs, and beautification of monuments and flyovers.
