Ranchi: As preparations gather pace for Swachh Survekshan 2025–26, the 10th edition of the Centre’s flagship cleanliness survey, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) intensified enforcement, waste recovery and public awareness measures to improve its performance.Launched in 2016 under the Swachh Bharat Mission (urban), the annual survey ranks cities on sanitation, waste management and citizen feedback, encouraging competitive federalism and urban reforms.The Swachh Survekshan field assessment is scheduled to be conducted between mid-Feb and March this year.This year’s assessment framework allocates marks across multiple parameters, including visible cleanliness, segregation and transportation of waste, solid waste processing, access to sanitation, used water management, mechanised desludging services, sanitation workers’ welfare, institutional strengthening and citizen grievance redressal. Garbage-Free City certification and Open Defecation Free (ODF)+/ODF++/Water+ categories also carry significant weightage.Ranchi ranked 37th out of 40 among million-plus cities last year, underlining the need for improvement.In a recent strategy meeting chaired by administrator Sushant Gaurav, officials directed 100% door-to-door waste collection, strict source segregation, three-shift lifting in all wards and intensified night cleaning in commercial belts. Dedicated road management teams were asked to curb roadside dumping and impose spot fines.On Thursday, enforcement teams inspected 25 establishments along Mahatma Gandhi Marg for non-payment of solid waste user charges, issuing on-the-spot demand notices. Fines were imposed on establishments for dumping waste on the road.“User charge compliance and visible cleanliness are non-negotiable. Action will be taken under the Jharkhand Municipal Act against defaulters,” an RMC official statement read.Besides, RMC also organised a two-day learning visit to Jamshedpur, studying its solid waste management and source segregation practices, after the city ranked third nationally and became Jharkhand’s first 5-Star garbage-free city.However, residents said that enforcement must be consistent. “Drives happen before surveys, but regular monitoring is needed throughout the year,” said Reema, a resident of Lalpur.Neelam Tudu, a sanitation worker at Lalpur Chowk, said, “Segregation at source is still a challenge. Without public cooperation, rankings will not improve.”With stronger monitoring, recovery drives and citizen engagement campaigns, RMC hopes to convert short-term enforcement into long-term behavioural change ahead of the upcoming survey cycle.
