
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


New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
NGT pulls up MCD over failure to clean Aya Nagar pond, seeks affidavit from commissioner
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has come down heavily on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to clean and restore a severely polluted pond in Aya Nagar, South Delhi, despite repeated directions and inspections by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the Tribunal has now directed the MCD Commissioner to file an affidavit within four weeks explaining the prolonged inaction. The case was triggered by multiple inspection reports filed by the DPCC, which highlighted the alarming condition of the pond. The most recent report, submitted on June 11, 2025, following an inspection on May 13, noted that the pond remained filled with plastic waste, garbage, and sewage. Geo-tagged photos submitted by the DPCC confirmed dumping of waste along the pond's periphery, with the garbage ultimately contaminating the water. The area also emitted a strong foul smell, indicating the presence of untreated sewage. Crucially, water samples collected during the inspection failed to meet the prescribed standards for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Coliform levels, confirming high levels of contamination. 'The above report of DPCC was filed on or about June 11, 2025. Thereafter, more than one and a half months have passed, but MCD has not filed any response to the status noted in the report,' observed the Tribunal, pulling up the civic body for its 'complete failure' to comply with its earlier orders and to take necessary remediation steps. The issue dates back to November 2023, when the NGT had first directed the DPCC to inspect the pond and initiate remedial measures. A follow-up inspection in February 2024 had already revealed rampant pollution, including the dumping of plastic, washing of cattle nearby, and direct discharge of sewage into the water body due to lack of a functional sewerage system. Despite notices issued in August 2024 and a series of directions over the months, the MCD has remained largely non-responsive, according to the Tribunal's records. In its latest order, the NGT said: 'We require the Commissioner, MCD to file an affidavit disclosing the reasons for not taking steps to keep the pond clean and failing to restore the pond and not complying with the orders of the Tribunal.' The next hearing is scheduled for August 25, 2025. Environmental activists have called the situation a reflection of civic apathy. Case triggered by multiple inspection reports by DPCC The case was triggered by multiple inspection reports filed by the DPCC, which highlighted the alarming condition of the pond. The most recent report, submitted on June 11, 2025, following an inspection on May 13, noted that the pond remained filled with plastic waste, garbage, and sewage. Geo-tagged photos submitted by the DPCC confirmed dumping of waste along the pond's periphery, with the garbage ultimately contaminating the water. The area also emitted a strong foul smell.


The Print
2 days ago
- The Print
Cremation grounds under MCD recommended to replace 20 per cent firewood with cow dung cakes
Officials said the initiative, though not mandatory, aims to gradually transition towards cleaner alternatives and an advisory has been issued encouraging cremation grounds to replace up to 20 per cent of traditional wood with cow dung cakes during cremations. The plan involves bifurcating materials — cow dung and stubble — into uniform logs of two to three feet for better combustion, with NGOs and private stakeholders also showing interest in supporting the initiative, a senior official told PTI. New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has asked its cremation grounds to replace 20 per cent of firewood with cow dung cakes, an idea that was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote eco-friendly practices. The move was discussed in a recent stakeholder meeting convened by the MCD including officials from the health department, horticulture division, manufacturers of dung-based items, NGOs and other experts, another official said. They said while the idea was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic in the erstwhile North Corporation, it is now being revived with a more structured and planned approach. A senior MCD official said the initiative has both environmental and logistical benefits. It reduces the dependence on wood and also helps manage the cow dung waste generated across the city's dairy colonies. While many people see cow dung as a sacred material, its acceptability for cremation is still evolving. There is still hesitation in fully embracing it as people still prefer wood. But there is a gradual shift, he added. Currently, Delhi has 59 cremation grounds, including both wood-based and CNG-operated units, spread across all the 12 zones. City-SP, Shahdara, and south Delhi are among the four municipal zones where around 10 cremation grounds are already using cow dung cakes as fuel. Department officials said that they have initially recommended replacing 20 per cent of traditional wood with cow dung cakes with an aim of observing and monitoring fuel usage. Depending on supply and public response, the share could gradually be increased to 30, 40, or even 50 per cent. According to department estimates, if Delhi's cremation grounds were to completely replace wood it would collectively require around four lakh kilogram of cow dung cakes per day. However, the current supply stands at only 10,000 kilogram per day — highlighting a significant shortfall. 'The civic body sources cow dung from Delhi and dairies located within a 100 kilometre radius of NCR, as in-city production is low. Most dairy waste otherwise ends up in drains, contributing to water pollution and using it for cremations is a far better alternative,' an official explained. A handler at one of the cremation grounds said, 'We have cow dung cakes available here, but most people still prefer wood. If someone asks for cow dung cakes, we provide 10 kilogram for free, following which we charge Rs 7 per kilogram. This arrangement has been in place for the last three to four years.' The health department also backed the move, citing an order from 2022 which had authorised the use of cow dung in cremations. 'The concept has merit, but the challenges include flammability, as cow dung cakes catch moisture quickly , an and inconsistent supply. In many cremation grounds, the idea was dropped earlier due to logistical hurdles,' a health department official said. While CNG and electric cremation options are expanding in the city, officials said wood-based cremations remain widely used by communities as a traditional practice. The effort to replace a part of that wood with cow dung cakes is being seen as a measured, culturally sensitive, and environmentally progressive step — one that could have long-term benefits in reducing carbon emissions, managing dairy waste, and preserving natural resources. PTI NSM NSM OZ OZ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Cremation grounds under MCD recommended to replace 20 per cent firewood with cow dung cakes
New Delhi, The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has asked its cremation grounds to replace 20 per cent of firewood with cow dung cakes, an idea that was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote eco-friendly practices. Cremation grounds under MCD recommended to replace 20 per cent firewood with cow dung cakes The plan involves bifurcating materials cow dung and stubble into uniform logs of two to three feet for better combustion, with NGOs and private stakeholders also showing interest in supporting the initiative, a senior official told PTI. Officials said the initiative, though not mandatory, aims to gradually transition towards cleaner alternatives and an advisory has been issued encouraging cremation grounds to replace up to 20 per cent of traditional wood with cow dung cakes during cremations. The move was discussed in a recent stakeholder meeting convened by the MCD including officials from the health department, horticulture division, manufacturers of dung-based items, NGOs and other experts, another official said. They said while the idea was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic in the erstwhile North Corporation, it is now being revived with a more structured and planned approach. A senior MCD official said the initiative has both environmental and logistical benefits. It reduces the dependence on wood and also helps manage the cow dung waste generated across the city's dairy colonies. While many people see cow dung as a sacred material, its acceptability for cremation is still evolving. There is still hesitation in fully embracing it as people still prefer wood. But there is a gradual shift, he added. Currently, Delhi has 59 cremation grounds, including both wood-based and CNG-operated units, spread across all the 12 zones. City-SP, Shahdara, and south Delhi are among the four municipal zones where around 10 cremation grounds are already using cow dung cakes as fuel. Department officials said that they have initially recommended replacing 20 per cent of traditional wood with cow dung cakes with an aim of observing and monitoring fuel usage. Depending on supply and public response, the share could gradually be increased to 30, 40, or even 50 per cent. According to department estimates, if Delhi's cremation grounds were to completely replace wood it would collectively require around four lakh kilogram of cow dung cakes per day. However, the current supply stands at only 10,000 kilogram per day highlighting a significant shortfall. "The civic body sources cow dung from Delhi and dairies located within a 100 kilometre radius of NCR, as in-city production is low. Most dairy waste otherwise ends up in drains, contributing to water pollution and using it for cremations is a far better alternative," an official explained. A handler at one of the cremation grounds said, "We have cow dung cakes available here, but most people still prefer wood. If someone asks for cow dung cakes, we provide 10 kilogram for free, following which we charge ₹7 per kilogram. This arrangement has been in place for the last three to four years." The health department also backed the move, citing an order from 2022 which had authorised the use of cow dung in cremations. "The concept has merit, but the challenges include flammability, as cow dung cakes catch moisture quickly , an and inconsistent supply. In many cremation grounds, the idea was dropped earlier due to logistical hurdles," a health department official said. While CNG and electric cremation options are expanding in the city, officials said wood-based cremations remain widely used by communities as a traditional practice. The effort to replace a part of that wood with cow dung cakes is being seen as a measured, culturally sensitive, and environmentally progressive step one that could have long-term benefits in reducing carbon emissions, managing dairy waste, and preserving natural resources. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.