The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has initiated preparations to retain its ‘Super Swachh City’ status under the Swachh Bharat Mission, with Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde stating that the recognition, while a matter of pride, also brings increased responsibility.
Citizen participation central to cleanliness drive
Addressing a general body meeting in the presence of Mayor Sujata Patil and corporators, the Commissioner emphasised that sustained performance in cleanliness rankings cannot be achieved without active citizen participation. He urged elected representatives to encourage residents in their respective wards to take part in cleanliness initiatives and to submit feedback as part of the ongoing Swachh Survekshan process.
Consistent national ranking and entry into ‘Super Swachh League’
Navi Mumbai has consistently maintained a strong national ranking in the survey over the years. The city secured fourth place in 2021, followed by third position in both 2022 and 2023. In 2024, it was included in the ‘Super Swachh League’, a special category comprising cities that have consistently ranked among the top performers. Other cities in this category include Indore, Surat and Vijayawada.
Focus on visible cleanliness in upcoming survey
To retain its position in this category, the city is required to secure at least 85 per cent of the total marks. This year’s assessment carries a total of 12,500 marks, with a particular emphasis on visible cleanliness. Inspection teams are expected to visit Navi Mumbai in the first week of May, during which various locations will be assessed and citizens will also be engaged for feedback.
Collective efforts behind city’s performance
The Commissioner noted that the city’s performance has been driven by the collective efforts of sanitation workers, citizens, housing societies and voluntary organisations. Institutions such as the Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan, along with participation from students, women, senior citizens and members of the transgender community, have contributed to ongoing cleanliness initiatives.
Awareness initiatives and community engagement
A range of awareness programmes has been undertaken to encourage participation, including essay, drawing and poster competitions, as well as initiatives such as the Dry Waste Bank. These efforts are aimed at instilling habits of cleanliness at an early age while promoting wider community engagement.
Guidelines issued for residents
Reiterating that cleanliness is a continuous process, the civic body has appealed to residents to adopt basic practices such as segregation of wet and dry waste at source, proper disposal of hazardous waste, avoiding littering in public spaces, use of public sanitation facilities and implementation of waste management systems within housing societies.
Citizen feedback process underway
Meanwhile, the citizen feedback process under Swachh Survekshan has commenced. Residents have been encouraged to submit responses through the official portal, the Swachhata App, MyGov Survey and the ‘Vote for Your City’ platform by answering a set of 13 questions related to urban cleanliness.
Swachh city pairing initiative introduced
Additionally, under the ‘Swachh City Pairing’ initiative introduced this year, each top-ranked city has been paired with five other cities to facilitate the exchange of best practices in sanitation and waste management.
Responsibility Shared Between Civic Body and Citizens
With the survey round approaching, the civic administration has reiterated that maintaining Navi Mumbai’s ranking will depend not only on infrastructure and systems, but also on continued public participation.
