UP cities shine in Swachh Survekshan rankings; Lucknow ranks third cleanest city
Prayagraj was declared the Cleanest Ganga City, recognised for its dedicated efforts in maintaining cleanliness around the river, especially during large events like the Mahakumbh. Agra, Gorakhpur, and the Mahakumbh 2025 initiative also received the Award of Excellence, reflecting the state's strong focus on urban sanitation.Gorakhpur received double honours, securing third place in the Safai Mitra Surakshit Sheher category and fourth among cities with a population between 3 to 10 lakh. The city also received a 5-star GFC rating, showing its progress in waste management and safety for sanitation workers.With six cities in Uttar Pradesh now among the top 20 cleanest large cities in India, all with above 5-star ratings, the state has emerged as a national leader in urban cleanliness reforms.Agra was named the Emerging Clean City of Uttar Pradesh, ranking 32nd nationally. The city has achieved a 5-star GFC rating, marking a major step in its journey toward sustainable urban sanitation.Moradabad earned the 10th spot among cities with populations between 3 to 10 lakh. In the medium city category, Bijnor and Shamshabad secured 29th and 95th places, respectively. These results highlight the state's effective sanitation strategy across different city sizes.Uttar Pradesh also won the Swachh Mahakumbh 2025 Award for its innovative sanitation plans for the upcoming Mahakumbh, combining cultural values with modern cleanliness efforts.Minister A K Sharma said that this success reflects the Yogi government's strong commitment to creating clean and livable cities. He praised the contributions of citizens, municipal bodies, and local leaders, while highlighting achievements like Lucknow's 7-star rating and Prayagraj's Ganga award.Urban mission director Anuj Jha noted key improvements, including verified door-to-door waste collection rising from 48% to 62%, and waste processing increasing to over 85%. He said the state's performance now exceeds national standards in almost all areas.The Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department credited the success to strict monitoring, training, and local efforts. With strong momentum, Uttar Pradesh is aiming to become the cleanest state in the country.- EndsMust Watch
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