Haryana: Ambala gains 26 places in annual Swachh Survekshan

AMBALA: In the annual Swachh Survekshan, the Ambala Municipal Corporation gained 26 places nationally in the category of civic bodies with 1-10 lakh population as it ranked 120th with a score of 3095.96 this year. Last year, the city was at 146th spot.
However, the civic body lost three ranks in Haryana as it fell to 8th position, as compared to 5th last year.
Ambala was at 308th spot in 2017 and at 159th in 2018.
On the other side, the Cantonment Board Ambala has also gained 23 places with 27th rank this year out of 62 cantonments boards in India, as compared to 50th in 2019.
The report also records ODF (open defecation free) ‘++’ status of Ambala.
Despite the batter ranking at national level, the door-to-door garbage collection services remained suspended in Ambala MC.
Notably, the solid waste management plant at Patvi village in Ambala district has been non-operational for years and unprocessed garbage is being dumped in the open at Patvi area.
How things improved
Ambala MC commissioner Parth Gupta told TOI, “The improved ranking is the motivation for the staff who remained active even during the Covid-19 pandemic. We ensured timely services including sweeping, sanitisation, garbage lifting among others. I inspect the field every week to check the ground situation. It was ensured that employees get their salaries on time as this boosts their confidence and they work with dedication. We adopted a transfer policy to break the monopoly of some employees of the inspector level who were posted at a particular place for long period. A total of 154 employees were taken on-role and this also motivated the staff. In some instances, the action was also taken against erring officials and penalties were issued.”
Problems concerning Ambala MC
“I joined this post in January 2020, and the door to door services were suspended before me and its tender allotment is still pending. The solid waste management plant at Patvi is also lying defunct and policies are in pipeline to improve its condition,” said MC commissioner Parth.
“There is a shortage of sanitation workers (safai karamcharis) in Ambala MC. Presently, we are working with 60% sanitation workers. We have about 600 workers and requires about 300-400 more of them to improve the sanitation overall,” he added.