Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai recognized and honored sanitation workers at the ‘Swachhta Sangam’, acknowledging their crucial role in creating clean and beautiful cities. The event, held in Bilaspur, also celebrated urban bodies for their achievements in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. The program, organized by the Urban Administration and Development Department, was led by Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao. The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the groundwork for development projects worth over ₹260 crore. He announced significant cash rewards for urban bodies that achieve top rankings in cleanliness at the national level. The first-place winner will receive ₹1 crore, the second ₹50 lakh, and the third ₹25 lakh. The event was attended by various political figures and municipal officials. Chief Minister Sai praised the Urban Administration Department for the successful ‘Swachhta Sangam’ and highlighted the indispensable contribution of sanitation workers. He spoke about the Swachh Bharat Mission launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the continuous progress in cleanliness, particularly in Chhattisgarh. The Chief Minister also mentioned the department’s initiatives to improve citizen services and urged public involvement in maintaining a clean and attractive state. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao emphasized the importance of the day for Chhattisgarh, noting the transformation of the cleanliness initiative into a widespread movement. He highlighted the state’s advancements in cleanliness, its national accolades, and the six national awards received by the urban bodies. He pointed out the seven-star rating for Raipur Municipal Corporation for being a Garbage-Free City and the three-star rating for 58 cities in Chhattisgarh with a population under 20,000. The vision is to develop clean, beautiful, and convenient cities, making cleanliness a defining characteristic of Chhattisgarh. Dr. Basavaraju S., Secretary of the Urban Administration and Development Department, stated that 115 cities in the state improved their rankings in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. Seven urban bodies were honored by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. The Chief Minister also launched an online portal to facilitate property tax payments across three municipal corporations and 43 municipalities, aimed at modernizing local governance and improving citizen services. The ‘Swachhta Sangam’ also featured the launch of a state-level competition to enhance cleanliness and urban beautification standards. The Chief Minister released a video based on the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. He inaugurated 24 development projects worth ₹63.57 crore and laid the foundation for 25 projects worth over ₹197 crore.
