City of Ambala launches drive to eliminate plastic waste

Ambala (The Uttam Hindu): The district administration launched the ‘Swachh Ambala’ campaign on Saturday, aimed at eliminating plastic waste and improving sanitation in Ambala. Running from October 26 to November 15, the campaign will target both rural and urban areas to enhance overall cleanliness. As part of the initiative, gram panchayats that collect the most plastic waste at the block level will be awarded a development grant of Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, the gram panchayat with the highest per capita waste collection will also receive Rs 1 lakh.

SDM Ambala Cantonment, Satinder Siwach, kicked off the campaign in Janaitpur village and at the 12-crossroads in Ambala Cantonment. He emphasized the need for collective efforts to ensure the initiative's success and expressed hope that both civic employees and residents would actively participate in making Ambala cleaner. Siwach also urged farmers to refrain from burning paddy stubble and to manage crop residue responsibly. Other SDMs, including Darshan Kumar from Ambala City, Ashwani Malik from Barara, and Shashvat Sangwan from Naraingarh, also participated in cleanliness drives in their areas.

Deputy Commissioner Parth Gupta held a meeting with the SDMs and officials from the Municipal Corporation Ambala, Municipal Council Sadar, and municipal committees to gather feedback on sanitation conditions in the district. He stated that the SDMs would lead the campaign in their areas and regularly monitor its progress, focusing on routine cleanliness and efforts to create a plastic-free environment. A special ‘Swachhta Abhiyan’ will be organized in each municipal ward, where sanitary inspectors will be recognized for their contributions to plastic waste collection. Competitions and cleanliness assessments will take place throughout November 15, with a strong emphasis on youth involvement. Schools across the district will host competitions for plastic collection, and students who excel will be rewarded. Those leading in collections at both the block and district levels will receive digital watches, according to Gupta.