Jalandhar: A 10-day cleanliness campaign aimed at improving sanitation across Jalandhar was launched at Nakodar Chowk, with Punjab Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat leading the initiative alongside senior officials and municipal workers.
As part of the launch, Bhagat joined sanitation workers in sweeping the streets, urging residents to take equal responsibility for keeping their neighbourhoods clean. He said the administration would work to ensure that garbage and other waste do not remain on roads or in public spaces during the campaign.
Deputy Commissioner Varjit Walia appealed to households and commercial establishments to separate wet and dry waste before handing it over to Municipal Corporation collection teams. He also called upon residents to avoid throwing garbage in public places and actively participate in the cleanliness drive.
Jalandhar Mayor Vinit Dheer, constituency in-charge Nitin Kohli and Municipal Corporation employees also took part in the street-cleaning exercise. Officials and staff members joined sanitation workers in clearing waste from roads and surrounding areas.
Bhagat said the campaign would continue for 10 days and would cover different parts of the city through a coordinated effort. He emphasised that the objective was not limited to a short-term cleaning exercise but to encourage habits that could help maintain a cleaner Punjab in the long run.
Mayor Dheer said the ‘Clean Punjab Mission’ had been launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Local Bodies Minister. He said the Municipal Corporation, district administration and sanitation staff would work together during the 10-day programme with the aim of giving Jalandhar a visibly cleaner appearance.
Officials also stressed that maintaining cleanliness cannot be the responsibility of civic authorities alone. Despite regular collection and sanitation work, instances of people leaving garbage on roads, near shops and in other public areas continue to create challenges.
The administration has been conducting awareness activities to discourage such practices, while dustbins have also been installed at selected locations. Special marshals have additionally been deployed by the Municipal Corporation to prevent people from dumping waste in the city during night hours.
Residents have been asked to support sanitation workers by properly disposing of their household waste and keeping wet and dry garbage separate. Officials said public participation would be crucial to making the campaign effective.
The administration believes that a coordinated effort involving government departments, municipal workers, businesses and residents can significantly improve cleanliness across Jalandhar and potentially set an example for other cities in Punjab.
