Is Ahmedabad worthy of ‘Cleanest Big City’ tag? Heritage sites cry for cleanliness

After being recognised as India’s first World Heritage City by UNESCO, Ahmedabad has now become the ‘Cleanest Big City’ of the country in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25.

Even as Ahmedabad celebrates the top position among cities with a population of over 10 lakh in the cleanest cities category, several  monuments and roads need cleaning up.

According to reports, much work remains to be done to make the city comprehensively clean. Ongoing road repairs, pipeline and power line installations, and construction activities often result in scattered waste piles across locations. These also serve as breeding grounds for insects and mosquitoes.

Near Ahmedabad’s iconic ‘Prem Darwaza’ in the heritage city area, garbage heaps emitting foul odour can still be found. While Indore has consistently been ranked the cleanest city in the country for the past eight years, both municipal authorities and citizens of Ahmedabad must strive to ensure that the city is consistently clean and maintains that image.

Other heritage monuments such as Ahmad Shah’s Tomb, Jama Masjid, and Sarkhej Roza stand amidst a disheartening backdrop of filth, strewn plastic waste, and unmanaged trash, marring their historic grandeur.

Gujarat must take inspiration from Indore

Moreover, only 26 out of 162 municipalities in Gujarat are garbage-free as per the report. 

In Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, 17 municipal corporations and 145 municipalities from Gujarat participated. The ranking was based on a total of 12,500 marks. 

Out of this, 10,000 marks were allocated for parameters like cleanliness, garbage segregation, collection, transportation, solid waste management, toilet maintenance, used water management, and citizen feedback. The remaining 2,500 marks were allotted to Garbage-Free City certification (1,300 marks) and Open Defecation Free certification (1,200 marks).

Across the country, Gujarat scored an average of 8,178 out of 12,500 marks. In the Garbage-Free City certification, Ahmedabad and Surat received a 7-star rating. Vadodara, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Bhavnagar, and Vapi received a 3-star rating, while 19 municipal corporations and municipalities received a 1-star rating. All 162 municipal corporations and municipalities in Gujarat received the Open Defecation Free certification.

Notably, Indore has continued to hold the title of the country’s cleanest city for the eighth year in a row. There is growing discussion around the idea that instead of international study tours in the name of learning, municipal officials would benefit more by visiting neighbouring Indore. 

What’s Indore’s secret? 

• Green waste processing to produce both compost and biofuel. energy. Five plants are set up to convert green waste into compost.
• Steps toward achieving zero-landfill status. The remaining 5% non-recyclable waste is layered and buried underground.
• Every ward has “Three R” centres—Reuse, Recycle, Reduce—for processing old clothes, shoes, etc.
• Treatment and reuse of grey water from kitchens and bathrooms.
• Indore is home to Asia’s largest CNG plant.
• Since 2016, public participation in cleanliness initiatives has increased. Public toilets and dustbins are consistently found at short intervals throughout the city.