Ace shooter backs cleanliness drive

Pimpri Chinchwad: Shooter Anjali Bhagwat, brand ambassador for cleanliness in Pimpri Chinchwad, has urged citizens to segregate garbage and download the Swacch App.
"Citizens should participate in cleanliness drives in equal measure," Bhagwat said, adding that Roseland Residency in Pimple Saudagar had received the cleanliness award under Swacch Bharat Mission.

"We have to maintain cleanliness at all times, and pass it on to future generations," Bhagwat said.

Citizens have to segregate garbage into dry and wet waste, and give it to the collecting vehicles. It will be easier for transporting garbage to processing centres and then to Moshi garbage depot. Citizens will also have to download the Swacch App and if they have any complaints about cleanliness, the civic administration will resolve them in 12 hours, Bhagwat said. Citizens have downloaded over 35,000 Swacch apps so far.

Municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar said there is fierce competition among 4,041 cities for cleanliness in 2018.

In 2016, there were 75 cities (with over a million population), and Pimpri Chinchwad was ranked ninth in the competition. In 2017, there were 500 cities (under the Amrut scheme) and Pimpri Chinchwad ranked 72nd.

Hardikar has said that Pimpri Chinchwad has to take major efforts for cleanliness in 2018.

Through the efforts, the city is likely to be ranked between 20 and 30.

PCMC has built toilets at truck terminals and at petrol pumps, and over 8,500 public and community toilets. Citizens have been told to use toilets at these pumps. "We are speaking to hotels and restaurants to allow use of toilets for citizens," Hardikar said.

PCMC has developed a mobile applicaiton to locate public and community toilets. Hardikar said. "We have all that is required to be on the top for cleanliness. The Pimpri Chinchwad civic body is also in the process for waste to energy project at the Moshi garbage depot," the municipal commissioner added.