100% shocker: Swachh marks for water bodies cleanliness in Panchkula do not match actual conditions

Time of India

20-07-2025

Panchkula: Full 100 per cent marks in the 'cleanliness of water bodies' category came as a big surprise in the recent Swachh Survekshan, as none of the parameters match the scoring, raising questions on the marking process of the nationwide survey conducted here.
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According to the Swachh Survekshan Toolkit, the objective of the indicator is to ensure that the "water bodies are clean, pollutant-free, well-maintained, equipped with litter bins and anti-littering measures, with at least one water body aesthetically enhanced for public use within its jurisdiction." However, not a single one of these criteria is met in the water bodies, which are highly polluted, have garbage dumps, no bins, and are not used for public purposes either.
The second main part of the category was the validation methodology: "The validation for this indicator will be carried out by visiting the water bodies within the ULB's jurisdiction." But, eyebrows are being raised over these visits, which also had to capture photographs and videos at the sampled locations, as the dirty condition of these water bodies is quite visible. It's not just residents' concern; there are govt reports too highlighting how polluted rivers and drains are in the city.
"Not even one out of the eleven parameters for judging water body cleanliness is being fulfilled at Panchkula. Yet, we are scoring 100 per cent marks. This can't even be a joke being played on the residents of Panchkula. So much for the authenticity and integrity of the Swachh Survekshan 2024-2025," commented Mohit Gupta, co-founder of the Save Ghaggar Campaign and founder of Solution Box.
According to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Panchkula, in February this year, it found that the Ghaggar River, before meeting Sukhna Choe in Panchkula, had a Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) level of 9.8 mg/L and a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) level of 56 mg/L.
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As per norms, for rivers, the ideal BOD level for healthy water bodies should be 3 mg/L or less, while COD levels should ideally be below 10 mg/L. However, the levels are exceeded by high margins in the district, raising health and environmental concerns.
Similar is the plight of drains here, but it seemed to have been ignored by the Swachh inspection team.
The sorry state of affairs in terms of cleanliness is no secret in Ghaggar, where all sorts of garbage and other religious and non-religious items are thrown and dumped by people from different parts of Panchkula and adjoining areas.
The situation is so bad that, after losing hope in the district authorities about cleanliness, some residents are themselves carrying out cleanliness drives here under the Save Ghaggar Campaign.
Even garbage can be seen flowing in drains and other rivers with dirty water.
"It raises questions on the marking process for this category. Last year also they gave the same 100 per cent marks for the cleanliness of water bodies.
Does the team not do ground inspection? Or do they not follow govt department reports? The water bodies have alarming BOD and COD levels and have huge waste dumps inside and at their banks. I will take up the issue with the authorities carrying out the survey, which is totally bereft of ground reality," said Tapasaya Sharma, co-founder of the Save Ghaggar Campaign.
"Even the flow of natural nallahs is in complete disarray.
Whether the nallahs flowing from Sector 2 or Sector 17/7, they are very dirty. Water bodies here have a permanent brown colour. Whether it is Nada or Nandana Choe, they have leachate. Sewerage is released in the nallahs near Mata Mansa Devi temple. There are even NGT reports about industrial waste being released in Ghaggar. I fail to understand how all this can be overlooked in the survey," added Mohit Gupta.
However, President of the Federation of Residents Association (FORA), RP Malhotra, felt putting up of nets on old Ghaggar river bridge has helped stopping throwing of waste from the road.
It may be mentioned here the city overall performed its worst ever securing 219th rank nationally and 22nd rank in state.
Cleanliness of water bodies category:
Scheme of marking:
- Are the water bodies free from solid waste, water weeds, or any other pollutants (40/40 marks)
- Is the area around all water bodies clean, well-maintained, and free from any open garbage sites or dumps within a 500-metre radius (40/40 marks)
- Do the water bodies have twin bins in place to eliminate the accumulation of garbage/waste in and around them, along with anti-littering messages/signage (40/40 marks)
- Is at least one body aesthetically pleasing, with the surrounding area beautified to include pavements for public use, trees, and branches (30/30 marks)
MSID:: 122781697 413 |
Panchkula: Full 100 per cent marks in the 'cleanliness of water bodies' category came as a big surprise in the recent Swachh Survekshan, as none of the parameters match the scoring, raising questions on the marking process of the nationwide survey conducted here.
According to the Swachh Survekshan Toolkit, the objective of the indicator is to ensure that the "water bodies are clean, pollutant-free, well-maintained, equipped with litter bins and anti-littering measures, with at least one water body aesthetically enhanced for public use within its jurisdiction." However, not a single one of these criteria is met in the water bodies, which are highly polluted, have garbage dumps, no bins, and are not used for public purposes either.
The second main part of the category was the validation methodology: "The validation for this indicator will be carried out by visiting the water bodies within the ULB's jurisdiction." But, eyebrows are being raised over these visits, which also had to capture photographs and videos at the sampled locations, as the dirty condition of these water bodies is quite visible. It's not just residents' concern; there are govt reports too highlighting how polluted rivers and drains are in the city.
"Not even one out of the eleven parameters for judging water body cleanliness is being fulfilled at Panchkula. Yet, we are scoring 100 per cent marks. This can't even be a joke being played on the residents of Panchkula. So much for the authenticity and integrity of the Swachh Survekshan 2024-2025," commented Mohit Gupta, co-founder of the Save Ghaggar Campaign and founder of Solution Box.
According to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Panchkula, in February this year, it found that the Ghaggar River, before meeting Sukhna Choe in Panchkula, had a Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) level of 9.8 mg/L and a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) level of 56 mg/L.
As per norms, for rivers, the ideal BOD level for healthy water bodies should be 3 mg/L or less, while COD levels should ideally be below 10 mg/L. However, the levels are exceeded by high margins in the district, raising health and environmental concerns.
Similar is the plight of drains here, but it seemed to have been ignored by the Swachh inspection team.
The sorry state of affairs in terms of cleanliness is no secret in Ghaggar, where all sorts of garbage and other religious and non-religious items are thrown and dumped by people from different parts of Panchkula and adjoining areas.
The situation is so bad that, after losing hope in the district authorities about cleanliness, some residents are themselves carrying out cleanliness drives here under the Save Ghaggar Campaign.
Even garbage can be seen flowing in drains and other rivers with dirty water.
"It raises questions on the marking process for this category. Last year also they gave the same 100 per cent marks for the cleanliness of water bodies.
Does the team not do ground inspection? Or do they not follow govt department reports? The water bodies have alarming BOD and COD levels and have huge waste dumps inside and at their banks. I will take up the issue with the authorities carrying out the survey, which is totally bereft of ground reality," said Tapasaya Sharma, co-founder of the Save Ghaggar Campaign.
"Even the flow of natural nallahs is in complete disarray.
Whether the nallahs flowing from Sector 2 or Sector 17/7, they are very dirty. Water bodies here have a permanent brown colour. Whether it is Nada or Nandana Choe, they have leachate. Sewerage is released in the nallahs near Mata Mansa Devi temple. There are even NGT reports about industrial waste being released in Ghaggar. I fail to understand how all this can be overlooked in the survey," added Mohit Gupta.
However, President of the Federation of Residents Association (FORA), RP Malhotra, felt putting up of nets on old Ghaggar river bridge has helped stopping throwing of waste from the road.
It may be mentioned here the city overall performed its worst ever securing 219th rank nationally and 22nd rank in state.
Cleanliness of water bodies category:
Scheme of marking:
- Are the water bodies free from solid waste, water weeds, or any other pollutants (40/40 marks)
- Is the area around all water bodies clean, well-maintained, and free from any open garbage sites or dumps within a 500-metre radius (40/40 marks)
- Do the water bodies have twin bins in place to eliminate the accumulation of garbage/waste in and around them, along with anti-littering messages/signage (40/40 marks)
- Is at least one body aesthetically pleasing, with the surrounding area beautified to include pavements for public use, trees, and branches (30/30 marks)
MSID:: 122781697 413 |