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Ahmedabad has recently been named India’s cleanest big city in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs involving over 14 crore citizens across 4,500 cities. Ahmedabad scored an average of 8,178 out of 12,500 marks, distinguishing itself among cities with populations exceeding one million. This recognition comes shortly after Ahmedabad was declared India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, highlighting its cultural and historical significance on a global scale. However, beneath this accolade lies a complex reality: several areas, particularly heritage sites, continue to struggle with cleanliness and waste management challenges.
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What the Swachh Survekshan Policy Actually Says for Ahmedabad
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The Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 is an annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to assess urban sanitation and waste management performance across Indian cities. The evaluation framework is detailed in the official notification from the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO), which mandates cities to be assessed on parameters such as:
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- Solid waste management (collection, segregation, processing, and disposal)
- Open defecation free status and sanitation infrastructure
- Citizen feedback and public participation
- Innovation and best practices in cleanliness
- Maintenance of public spaces and heritage sites
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Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) prepared for the survey by implementing the Swachh Ahmedabad Mission, focusing on improved door-to-door waste collection, increased waste segregation at source, and enhanced street sweeping, particularly in its 48 urban wards. The AMC also collaborated with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) for scientific disposal of waste and encouraged citizen participation through awareness campaigns. However, despite these efforts, the survey noted ongoing challenges related to construction debris, especially near heritage zones.
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Who Is Affected and How by Ahmedabad’s Cleanliness Efforts
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Ahmedabad’s cleanliness initiatives directly impact over 8 million city residents, including traders, tourists, and heritage conservationists. Key stakeholders include:
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- Residents: Improved sanitation reduces health risks such as vector-borne diseases. However, citizens living near construction zones often face litter accumulation.
- Tourists and Heritage Advocates: The city’s historic sites like Prem Darwaza, Jama Masjid, and Ahmad Shah’s Tomb attract millions annually. Garbage near these sites diminishes their aesthetic and cultural value, affecting tourism revenues.
- Municipal Workers and Waste Pickers: AMC employees and informal sector workers are responsible for waste segregation and street cleaning. Inadequate infrastructure and ongoing construction complicate their tasks.
- Local Businesses: Clean surroundings promote commerce and hospitality sectors, but road work and pipeline installations can disrupt regular operations.
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Furthermore, the survey showed that while 17 municipal corporations and 145 municipalities in Gujarat participated, only 26 of the state’s 162 municipalities have been officially declared garbage-free by the GPCB, indicating room for improvement beyond Ahmedabad.
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Why the Gujarat Government Made These Cleanliness Initiatives
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The Government of Gujarat, through the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, prioritised cleanliness and sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) guidelines to achieve sustainable urban living and public health improvements. Ahmedabad’s recognition is a step toward:
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- Enhancing Civic Pride: With UNESCO’s World Heritage City status awarded in 2017, the state aims to align urban cleanliness with cultural preservation.
- Promoting Tourism: Clean public spaces attract domestic and international tourists, boosting local economies in districts like Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.
- Improving Public Health: Reducing open defecation and unmanaged waste lowers disease incidence.
- Encouraging Sustainable Waste Management: Gujarat government encourages waste segregation, recycling, and composting to reduce landfill dependency.
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The AMC’s Solid Waste Management Department has recently procured ₹25 crore worth of mechanised cleaning equipment and developed 15 decentralized composting units to process green waste, inspired by successful models from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, which has held the cleanest city title for eight years.
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What Critics and Stakeholders Say About Ahmedabad’s Cleanliness Status
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Despite the accolades, urban activists and heritage conservationists express concerns. Mr. Ramesh Patel, founder of the Ahmedabad Heritage Forum, stated, “While the survey results are encouraging, the reality in many heritage zones like the old city is far from ideal. Garbage piles near Ahmad Shah’s Tomb and Prem Darwaza are not just eyesores but threaten the preservation of these monuments.”
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Environmentalists highlight that ongoing road and pipeline construction projects contribute significantly to litter and dust, with the AMC often failing to regulate debris removal effectively. An AMC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted, “The city’s rapid infrastructure development poses challenges in maintaining cleanliness, especially where construction waste mixes with household garbage.”
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Comparisons with Indore reveal that Ahmedabad still needs to develop robust citizen engagement programs and green waste processing. Indore’s initiatives include extensive door-to-door segregation, composting at ward levels, and quarterly public cleanliness drives, which Ahmedabad could replicate.
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What This Means for You: Practical Takeaways for Ahmedabad Residents and Visitors
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Residents and visitors of Ahmedabad can play a crucial role in sustaining the city’s cleanliness achievements. Here are actionable steps:
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- Participate in Waste Segregation: Separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste at home as per AMC’s guidelines. Use designated bins and avoid littering.
- Report Litter and Illegal Dumping: Use AMC’s official mobile app or call 079-2294 0333 to report garbage accumulation, especially near heritage sites.
- Support Heritage Clean-Up Drives: Join local NGOs and citizen groups organizing cleanliness drives around historic zones like the UNESCO World Heritage City core areas.
- Stay Informed on Construction Activities: Monitor public notices about roadwork or pipeline projects that may affect your locality and cooperate with municipal efforts to manage debris.
- Advocate for Sustainable Practices: Encourage your ward councillors to implement green waste composting and better waste processing solutions akin to Indore’s model.
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To stay updated on municipal cleanliness initiatives, visit the official AMC website at ahmedabadcity.gov.in and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs portal at swachhsurvekshan2024.mohua.gov.in.
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Ahmedabad’s recent recognition as the cleanest big city in India is a commendable milestone, but maintaining and improving this status requires ongoing cooperation between government bodies, citizens, and businesses. Only through sustained effort can Ahmedabad truly embody its title and preserve its rich heritage for generations to come.
“,
“yoast_title”: “Ahmedabad Cleanest Big City: Reality Behind the Title”,
“yoast_description”: “Ahmedabad named India’s cleanest big city in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. Discover the challenges, policies, and how residents can help maintain this status.”,
“focus_keyphrase”: “ahmedabad cleanest big city”,
“tags”: [
“ahmedabad”,
“swachh survekshan”,
“ahmedabad municipal corporation”,
“heritage sites”,
“gujarat pollution control board”,
“solid waste management”,