Patna: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to launch an intensive 15-day sanitation campaign, Swachhata Pakhwada (Cleanliness Fortnight), from July 1. The initiative is aimed at promoting hygiene, raising public awareness and improving Patna’s ranking in the Centre’s Swachh Survekshan 2025-26.As part of the campaign, sanitation workers will clean all 658 garbage vulnerable points (GVPs) that were successfully cleared. In addition, special teams will monitor high-traffic areas to prevent littering and illegal dumping while awareness sessions will be held in residential localities to educate citizens on proper waste disposal.Municipal commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar said the drive would cover all 75 wards. “During this period, various activities will be conducted by sanitation workers at the freed GVP sites. Civic body officials will administer a cleanliness pledge to residents. Names of ‘Sadak Shatru’ — people caught littering or dumping waste — will be recorded and blacklisted. Offenders will be fined between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000,” he said.Parashar added, “Awareness programmes will be held daily at 19 different locations. People will be encouraged to segregate solid and wet waste and to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.”Rallies are planned in all six civic circles – Azimabad, Bankipur, Kankarbagh, New Capital, Patliputra and Patna City – led by executive officers, zonal in-charges and ward councillors. Awareness activities will also extend to schools, colleges, hotels and public spaces.Additional municipal commissioner Aashish Kumar said despite previous clean-ups, garbage dumping at freed GVPs continues. “This campaign aims to ensure 100% cleanliness. Alongside the pledge, sanitation workers will be honoured for their dedication. Our primary focus is public participation, waste segregation and permanent elimination of GVPs,” he said.Kumar also highlighted construction and demolition (C&D) waste as a key concern. “Awareness efforts will ensure full processing at the C&D plant in Ramachak Bairiya. The goal is to raise daily processing from 10-15 tonnes to over 19 tonnes per zone. PMC operates across 19 zones.”The campaign will also integrate a dengue awareness drive. “Participants will be educated on dos and don’ts. With the rainy season underway, over 500 teams across 375 sectors are spraying anti-larvae to prevent water stagnation. Each ward is being closely monitored,” he said.Officials said micro-level operations would target each ward with consistent household waste collection to ensure city-wide sanitation coverage throughout the fortnight.
