Odisha Gears Up to Become the Cleanest State in India

Gopalpur: Odisha is setting its sights on becoming the cleanest state in India, with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the state rallying together to achieve this ambitious goal. At a zonal-level workshop on Swachh Survekshan, held in Gopalpur by the Housing and Urban Development Department, the state government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ULBs in their efforts to enhance sanitation services and cleanliness.

Special Secretary and Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, emphasized the importance of dedicated and wholehearted efforts by all ULBs to make Odisha the cleanest state in the nation. “The state government will extend all necessary support to ULBs to help them achieve this milestone. It’s time to work with utmost dedication,” said Shri Patil.

The workshop brought together Municipal Commissioners, Executive Officers, Engineers, and other sanitation officials from 38 ULBs under the Southern Revenue Divisional. The gathering focused on preparing for Swachh Survekshan, an annual national-level urban sanitation survey conducted by the Government of India, which includes a third-party assessment to evaluate the quality of services provided by ULBs.

In his introductory speech, Additional Secretary and Additional Mission Director, Binaya Kumar Dash, urged ULBs to enhance the quality and efficiency of sanitation services delivered to citizens and to boost public participation in all aspects of sanitation. “The involvement of citizens is crucial for the success of our sanitation initiatives,” he added.

Durgesh Nandini Sahoo, Additional Secretary and Additional Mission Director, presented an analysis of the performance of ULBs in last year’s Swachh Survekshan, identifying areas for improvement ahead of this year’s assessment. Rabindra Kumar Sahu, Additional Secretary and Additional Mission Director, provided insights into various aspects of used water management, underscoring its importance in urban sanitation.

Binaya Kumar Dash also elaborated on the modalities of assessment for this year’s Swachh Survekshan, offering guidance on how ULBs can better prepare for the upcoming evaluation. The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by Rabindra Kumar Patel, Project Director of the District Urban Development Agency, Ganjam, who expressed gratitude to the guests and participants for their contributions.