Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A possible technical or clerical error in data submission may have cost Bhopal the top spot in Swachh Survekshan-2024 rankings.
Despite the city’s massive success in waste management — most notably the scientific closure of the 40-year-old Bhanpur dump site — Bhopal scored 0% in the “remediation of dumpsites” category, surprising both people and officials alike.
The Bhanpur landfill, once a symbol of urban waste mismanagement, was transformed by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) into a green expanse. Around 7.23 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste was scientifically treated, and 16 out of the 21 reclaimed acres have been developed into a lush, golf-course-like green area.
Garbage dumping at Bhanpur stopped after 2018, and waste is now sent to Adampur Cantonment, where 800 metric tonnes are processed daily.
Despite these accomplishments, the Swachh Survekshan-2024 results show zero percent remediation, raising questions about the evaluation process.
In contrast, other components like door-to-door collection, residential area cleanliness, market sanitation, public toilets and pond cleanliness all scored 100%.
Sources said that complete documentation on Bhanpur and Adampur facilities was uploaded to the survey portal, but an error may have occurred during submission. A post-award meeting was held in Delhi on Friday to look into the anomaly.
According to officials from the Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration Department (MPUAD), Bhopal received a 7-star rating in the Garbage Free City (GFC) category — and the first and basic requirement to award stars to any city under GFC is verified garbage processing.
Hard to believe
Until last year, Bhopal’s waste management efforts were widely recognised at the national level.This year, however, Ujjain received 62% marks in the dumpsite remediation category — while Bhopal got zero — prompting frustration and disbelief among local officials.
Probe promise
Sanket Bhondve, Commissioner of MPUAD, told Free Press that he was not yet aware of the issue, but promised a detailed inquiry into the anomaly.
BMC seeks answers
“This part of the result is shocking.It is not practically possible that we scored zero, considering our daily processing efforts at Adampur,”said BMC Commissioner Harendra Narayan. He saidthat the issue is being investigated, and an explanation is expected soon.
