Bhopal Ranks 5th in Swachh Survekshan 2023

• 25 Jan 2024

Why in News?

Bhopal has ascended from the 6^th position in 2022 to secure the 5^th spot among cities with a population exceeding 1 lakh. The city has achieved a notable 5-star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating, solidifying its status as the cleanest State capital in the nation.

• Furthermore, Bhopal holds the 5th position in the cleanliness rankings among cities with a population exceeding one million.

Key Points

• To ensure the effective processing and disposal of waste, a well-organized segregation system has been implemented at all 12 Transfer Stations in Bhopal. Currently, the city has 6 Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
• The transformation of the Bhanpur dumpsite into a green area underscores the State’s commitment to sustainable urban planning.
• Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has shifted from traditional waste treatment and utilizes hazardous waste as a valuable source of fuel.
  • The city has collaborated with Hazargo Industry Pithampur, marking the establishment of the first preprocessing plant in Bhopal to scientifically manage the hazardous waste released from homes, offices, and factories.
  • A common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBMWTF) to effectively process the bio-medical waste has been established in the city.
    • This facility oversees the comprehensive handling, transportation, storage, and treatment of medical waste from various healthcare facilities in the surrounding areas.
• As part of the ongoing projects, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has signed an agreement with BMC for setting up of 400 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) dry Municipal Solid Waste to torrefied charcoal plant. The torrefied charcoal produced will be used as a by-product in the thermal power plants of NTPC.
• Going forward Bhopal MC plans to continue its upward journey towards a garbage-free city, setting benchmarks for others to follow.

Swachh Survekshan

• About:
  • Swachh Survekshan, conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) since 2016, is the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey.
    • It has been instrumental in fostering a spirit of healthy competition among towns and cities to improve their service delivery to citizens and towards creating cleaner cities.
• Some of the Highlights of Swachh Survekshan of 2023:
  • Madhya Pradesh secured the second position in state cleanliness rankings.
  • Bottom Five States: Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Nagaland, and Tripura were ranked as the bottom five states in cleanliness.
  • Chandigarh received the Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar award for the city with the best safety standards for sanitation workers.
  • Varanasi was recognized as the cleanest Ganga town.