18-07-2025
Uttar Pradesh tops cleanliness survey, Lucknow wins presidential award
In a landmark achievement, Uttar Pradesh has claimed top honours in the Swachh Survekshan 202425. The state stood out across multiple categories in the ninth edition of the cleanliness survey, with its awards being presented at a ceremony at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu. Cabinet Minister A.K. Sharma received the awards on behalf of the state. Lucknow secured third place among cities with over one million residents and achieved a historic 7star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating. The presidential award for Lucknow marked a major milestone in urban sanitation in Uttar Lucknow, other cities in the state earned top recognition: Prayagraj was honoured as the Cleanest Ganga City, Agra was declared an Emerging Clean City, and Gorakhpur secured strong ranks in both the Safaimitra Safe City category and for midsize urban cleanliness. Prayagraj was praised for its sanitation efforts during Mahakumbh 2025, while Gorakhpur earned a 5star GFC rating and ranked high in the 3–10 lakh population class. Agra entered the top thirty nationally and received a 5star GFC certification, showcasing its growing commitment to urban cleanup efforts have also reached smaller cities: Moradabad ranked tenth nationally, Bijnor's municipal council placed twenty-ninth, and Shamshabad stood at ninety-fifth, showing a wide implementation of sanitation initiatives across Uttar Pradesh. Honoured for its innovations during Mahakumbh 2025, the state's success is due to effective coordination between urban bodies, diligent monitoring, and public cooperation. Urban Development Minister A.K. Sharma highlighted that these awards reflect Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's commitment to creating clean cities. Special Secretary Anuj Jha reported an increase in door-to-door waste collection from 48% to 62% and waste processing from 48% to over 85%. With advancements like GFC certification and progress in ODF++ and Water+, Uttar Pradesh is on the path to becoming India's leader in urban sanitation.- Ends
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