Haryana Faces Cleanliness Setback in Swachh Survekshan 2023 Rankings

Haryana's cities have experienced a significant decline in the Swachh Survekshan Survey-2023, revealed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in New Delhi. Unlike the previous year, none of Haryana's cities made it to the Top 100 in the country, reflecting poorly on the Khattar government just ahead of upcoming elections.

Factors Contributing to the Decline:

• Poor Public Feedback: Haryana received negative feedback from the public, indicating dissatisfaction with cleanliness measures.

• Low Segregation of Waste at Source: The level of segregated waste collection at the source was found to be inadequate.

• Erratic Certification Framework: Issues with the certification framework for declaring cities open defecation-free and garbage-free contributed to the decline.

• Inefficient Garbage Processing: Inadequate processing and disposal of garbage added to the challenges.

• Strikes by 'Safaimitras': Frequent strikes by sanitation workers ('safaimitras') across the state affected waste management efforts.

Previous Rankings and Current Scenario:

In 2022, Rohtak secured the 38th position, Karnal was at 85, and Panchkula at 86 nationally. However, in the latest rankings, no Haryana city made it to the Top 100.

Current Top 5 Cities in Haryana:

1. Rohtak/Gohana

2. Karnal/Kalka

3. Beri/Panchkula

4. Gurugram/Nilokheri

5. Jhajjar/Bahadurgarh

Concerns and Introspection:

This marks the first time that no city from Haryana is among the Top 100 nationally, prompting the need for introspection and a concrete strategy to improve cleanliness in the state. The government acknowledges the necessity of reevaluating efforts to enhance rankings in the future.

Specific City Rankings:

• Rohtak secured the top position in the state at rank 109.

• Karnal, represented by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, dropped out of the Top 100, ranking 115 nationally.

• Panchkula ranked 139, and Gurugram secured the fourth position at 140.

Detailed Analysis of Karnal:

Karnal's ranking slipped by 30 positions, scoring 5,735.96 out of 7,500 points. The town showed 92.5% door-to-door garbage collection, 74% segregation at source, and 45% waste processing. The rankings highlight the areas of improvement required for better waste management.

Statewide Bottom Performers:

• Thanesar in Kurukshetra ranked lowest at 414.

• Faridabad and Kaithal followed closely with rankings of 381 and 365, respectively.

Cities with Less Than 1 Lakh Population:

• Kalka in Panchkula secured the top position in the state, ranking 1,106 nationally.

• Gohana in Sonepat and Beri in Jhajjar district followed closely.

Bottom Performers:

• Punhana in Nuh, Adampur in Hisar, and Kundli in Sonepat were among the lowest-ranked cities in Haryana.

Cantonment Board Ranking:

• Ambala Cantt, the only cantonment board in the state, secured the 23rd position out of 60 nationally.

Conclusion:

Haryana faces a cleanliness setback in the Swachh Survekshan 2023 rankings, emphasising the need for immediate attention and strategic interventions to enhance waste management practices and public satisfaction in the state.