Latest news with #Swachhta
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First Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Sonu Nigam and Devrishi reunite for civic pride 'Halla Bol'
The song was created and composed by Devrishi, the composer-philosopher formerly known as Rishikesh Pandey, who has been the creative soul behind all of Indore's Swachhta songs since 2016 read more When India's cleanest city needed its boldest anthem yet, legendary singer Sonu Nigam and sonic visionary Devrishi delivered. As Indore clinched the Swachh Survekshan title for a record eighth time, the heart of the celebration beat to a powerful new song: 'Halla Bol – Swachhta ka Sirmaur Indore.' Far from being just another awareness jingle, 'Halla Bol' is a sonic statement—part tribute, part transformation. The anthem fuses nostalgia and newness by echoing the legendary 2016 track 'Ho Halla', which once redefined civic engagement in Indore. Now, nearly a decade later, its spirit returns in a bigger, more powerful form. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Voice of Change: From Shaan to Sonu While singer Shaan had become the beloved voice of Indore's earlier anthems—'Ho Halla', 'Ho Halla Again', and 'Hai Halla'—this year's challenge called for a deeper emotional resonance. Recognizing the moment's gravity, Additional Commissioner Abhilash Mishra proposed the name of Sonu Nigam, whose voice could evoke both reverence and rhythm. The song was created and composed by Devrishi, the composer-philosopher formerly known as Rishikesh Pandey, who has been the creative soul behind all of Indore's Swachhta songs since 2016. 'This wasn't just about a song—it was about cultural memory,' says Devrishi. 'We wanted to bring back the emotional pulse of 'Ho Halla' while infusing it with renewed pride and collective spirit.' Crafting the Anthem: Sonic Memory Meets Social Message The title 'Halla Bol' was chosen to maintain continuity with the original 'Ho Halla' campaign. But the citizens of Indore had voted in a tagline—'Swachhta ka Sirmaur' (The Crown of Cleanliness)—during a citywide contest. The Mayor's wish was to integrate public sentiment into the song, and thus, the full title was born. Musically, Devrishi resurrected familiar lyrical threads: 'Gali gali aur mohalla, karte karte ho halla… Swachhta ke doot banke hum chale ghar ghar mohalla' — a callback to the original anthem, now reimagined in Nigam's rich, emotive voice. Initially, Sonu Nigam thought it might be a routine government campaign song. But as Devrishi played the melody in the studio, the celebrated singer immersed himself in its soul, offering multiple takes with variations and heartfelt improvisations. 'This is different,' Sonu reportedly said. 'It makes you feel proud to be part of something larger.' A Music Video for the People The accompanying video moves away from glamour and focuses on everyday heroes: sanitation workers, children, common citizens. 'We wanted to celebrate the real faces of this movement,' says Devrishi. 'Those who rise before the city does and clean its streets with silent dignity.' Shot across Indore's neighborhoods, the video features people lip-syncing the anthem, waving flags, and applauding safai karmacharis. It's a rare example of civic art where administration meets aesthetics, policy meets poetry. Devrishi: The Mystic Composer of Civic Sound With a career that bridges ad-filmmaking, devotional music, and now, sonic philosophy, Devrishi has redefined how music can influence public behavior. From 'More Raipur' with Javed Ali to 'Swachhta ki Rajdhani' for Bhopal, his city-centric anthems have sparked musical revolutions across India. But it's Indore where his legacy stands tallest. With every win, he gave the city a new song. And with 'Halla Bol', he's not just celebrating another trophy—but sculpting a cultural memory that will outlast the rankings.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Indian Express
After auto driver's death, Gurgaon civic body launches campaign to cover manholes
Under a special drive to lock and secure open manholes, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has replaced damaged as well as open manholes at 319 locations across all city wards from July 12-14. The move comes against the backdrop of the death of Shailendra (27), an auto-rickshaw driver, who fell into an open manhole near Shishpal Vihar Gate 2 and drowned last week. The area was flooded after heavy rain lashed the city, and the open manhole went unnoticed. Shailendra hailed from Binoura village in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh. His family had filed a complaint at the Sadar police station, alleging negligence by the department concerned for leaving the sewer uncovered. Police had said a case has been registered, and investigations are underway. An MCG spokesperson said the goal of covering unsecured manholes is being executed in mission mode to prevent accidents and inconvenience to residents. 'The corporation is addressing reports of damaged or open manholes within stipulated timelines. Citizens have been urged to report such issues via social media, WhatsApp, helpline numbers, the e-Samadhan portal, or the Swachhta app,' the spokesperson said. 'Prioritising public safety, the corporation has extended the campaign by three more days to ensure no manhole remains unsecured,' he added. The MCG also conducted an anti-encroachment drive at Chakkarpur in Sector 28, targeting alleged illegal roadside stalls, tin sheds, and kiosks obstructing footpaths, roads, and public markets. The drive was conducted following directives from Municipal Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya during a review meeting on Saturday. He said the new campaign aims to maintain the city's order and aesthetics: 'Roads, footpaths, and public spaces are for citizens' use. Those who persist in encroaching despite warnings will face fines and legal action.' Dahiya added that regular monitoring is underway, and residents should report encroachments promptly. 'Local residents welcomed the initiative, noting that cleared footpaths and public spaces have helped ease pedestrian movement. The drive is expected to improve traffic flow, enhance the city's appearance, and ensure better public amenities,' the spokesperson said.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
A.P. govt. to announce circular economy policy in two months
The Andhra Pradesh government will announce a new circular economy policy in the next two months as part of its efforts to strengthen the waste management system in the State. The government would also set up three Circular Economy Parks within a year. Disclosing this at a review meeting held at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that single-use plastic would be banned in 17 Municipal Corporations, including Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Rajamahendravaram, from October 2. Additionally, 157 Reduce-Reuse-Recycle (RRR) centres would be set up in 87 urban areas, and the government would encourage the use of cloth bags in these cities. It would also present 'Swachhta Awards' to the outstanding performers in waste management, he said. Mr. Naidu asked the officials to prepare a comprehensive plan focusing on 11 sectors identified by the Central government under the circular economy framework: municipal waste, vehicles, lithium batteries, gypsum, tyres, rubber, electronics, agriculture, industry, and aqua waste. Additionally, the departments of mining, handlooms, and animal husbandry would also be included. Urban and rural local bodies should strive to achieve the goal of zero waste, he said. 'Swachhta' Awards To encourage the best practices, the Chief Minister proposed that 'Swachhta' Awards should be introduced from October 2 next year for individuals and institutions demonstrating excellence in waste management. Awards will be distributed across categories such as local bodies, self-help groups, anganwadis, schools and colleges, bus stands, hospitals, NGOs, and other organisations. The officials informed Mr. Naidu that 52 waste clusters had been formedd across the State—two in each district, covering urban and panchayat areas. Every year, Andhra Pradesh generates 36,588 tonnes of battery and automotive waste, 61,996 tonnes of plastic and PET bottle waste, 23,928 litres of engine and hydraulic oil waste, and 59,654 tonnes of tyre and rubber waste. Agriculture contributes over 4 million metric tonnes of waste annually, while the livestock, aquaculture, and poultry sectors together generate 34.7 million metric tonnes. In rural areas, 1,329 tonnes of waste are generated daily from 8.8 million households. The officials presented incentives provided for circular economy initiatives in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Effective implementation of the circular economy model in Andhra Pradesh could boost the State's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) by an estimated ₹15,000 crore annually. Additionally, it would allow the supply of materials worth ₹10,000 crore to the manufacturing sector. This value addition is expected to generate ₹3,000 crore annually in GST revenue. The initiative could also create direct employment for 100,000 people and support 10,000 micro-entrepreneurs, indirectly providing livelihoods to over 1 million individuals. The environmental benefits include reduced carbon emissions and significant control over land, water, and air pollution, they said.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Waterlogging and sanitation top priorities, will hold officials accountable for work: MCG chief
Gurgaon: New MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said that over the next three months, he anticipated administrative reforms that emphasised accountability. Dahiya said officials should not presume their positions are guaranteed indefinitely. During his introductory interaction with reporters, Dahiya said that following a review of the civic body, it became evident there was a lack of accountability, replaced by a sense of privilege. The commissioner said his top priorities were resolving waterlogging in the city, strengthening the sanitation system, disposing of legacy waste effectively, and providing timely services to citizens. Several executive engineers were transferred out, and future appointments will prioritise individuals demonstrating strong work ethics, genuine commitment, and diligence, he said, adding that evaluation of junior engineers revealed their insufficient commitment to their duties. "I hope that in three months, there will be changes on the administrative side, focusing on accountability, without any sense of entitlement. No one should assume that they have always been here and will remain here. The state govt has clearly communicated to us that work must be done with accountability," said Dahiya. "There appeared to be a complacent attitude among MCG employees, believing their mere presence was sufficient. It has been clearly communicated to the JEs that they must fulfil their responsibilities, as every team member is required to contribute effectively," he added. Data was collected from various sources to identify the locations that faced persistent waterlogging in previous years, Dahiya said, adding that this data, based on feedback from the media, police, GMDA, public representatives, and citizens, was analysed. He added that teams comprising junior engineers and staff related to cleaning and sewerage have been formed at potential waterlogging sites to ensure proper drainage management before the monsoon. Yash Jaluka, additional commissioner, MCG, said, "We have deployed 20 extra staff members at call centre to gather feedback from junior engineers about these waterlogging-prone locations. Citizens can also provide their feedback or suggestions at the call centre. They can give their feedback on MyGurugram app, Swachhta app, and our helpline numbers." Moreover, joint commissioner-level officers are monitoring their respective zones, and the additional municipal commissioner will personally visit all potential sites starting May 21, additional comissioner added.
