Hyderabad clinches clean city honor in Swachh Survekshan Awards

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been honored with a prestigious National Clean City Award for achieving a 5-star rating in the Garbage Free Cities Protocol during Swachh Survekshan 2023. The award was presented by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Thursday. Commissioner D. Ronald Rose accepted the award on behalf of GHMC, with the presence of R. Upender Reddy (Additional Commissioner - Sanitation), Soma Bharath (Project Manager, SBM, GHMC), and Manjula (Sanitary Field Assistant, Kapra Circle).

GHMC, under the leadership of Commissioner Ronald Rose, has consistently excelled in the 'Swachh Survekshan' awards, securing a 5-star rating this year for its effective garbage disposal protocol. The city had previously earned a 3-star rating, and it was also recognized as a water-plus city for two consecutive years due to its exemplary wastewater treatment protocol.

The Swachh Survekshan 2023, covering 4416 cities, provides rankings for cities with populations above and below one lakh. GHMC received several accolades, including being declared the 9th Clean City in India, a 5-star-rated Garbage Free City in India, and the Cleanest City in Telangana. Moreover, it achieved the distinction of being the first 5-star rated city in Telangana for populations exceeding one lakh and was re-certified as a Water Plus City.

The Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities, initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, aims to establish a framework for cities to attain Garbage Free status and encourages them to achieve higher cleanliness standards. GHMC's 5-star rating acknowledges its commitment to key components such as door-to-door collection, waste segregation, cleanliness in various areas, waste processing, responsible waste management, and environmental protection measures.

Additionally, GHMC's Water Plus certification, achieved in 2021 and re-certified in 2023, underscores the city's dedication to treating wastewater to satisfactory levels before releasing it into the environment.

The GHMC's success in these areas is a testament to its ongoing efforts to promote cleanliness, sustainability, and citizen participation, aligning with the broader goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban.