Special Cleanliness Drive To Be Launched In Pune; Commissioner Holds Meeting With Civic Officials and NGOs
Special Cleanliness Drive To Be Launched In Pune; Commissioner Holds Meeting With Civic Officials and NGOs
Pune, June 14, 2025 — In response to the growing concerns over garbage accumulation in public spaces and lack of effective implementation by civic authorities, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is all set to launch a special cleanliness drive across the city. The initiative, announced by the newly appointed Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, will be modeled on the lines of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and will focus on active public participation.
In his first major move since assuming office, Commissioner Ram convened a meeting with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civic groups, and administrative officials to discuss the roadmap for the “Swachh Pune Abhiyan.” The drive will be implemented in the coming month with both administrative reforms and citizen engagement as core components.
Key Participants in the Meeting:
Representatives from Rotary Club, Ecoexist, Swachh Pune Seva Sahakari Sanstha, Pune Retailers Association, Maratha Chamber of Commerce, Puneri Nayak, NSCC, Dr. Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Foundation, Credai, Jewellers Association, and others attended the session, along with senior PMC officials including Additional Commissioners M.J. Pradeep Chandran, Prithviraj B.P., Omprakash Divate, and Solid Waste Management Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kadam.
Issues Highlighted:
- Garbage heaps are increasingly visible in public spaces.
- There’s a gap between directives issued from PMC headquarters and their implementation at ward office levels.
- Lack of coordination and accountability among field officers, including circle commissioners, assistant commissioners, and health inspectors.
Naval Kishore Ram emphasized that despite past orders from PMC regarding cleanliness, implementation has been poor. The new campaign aims to correct these lapses through a structured plan focusing on waste segregation, home composting, involvement of bulk waste generators, community awareness, and student participation from schools and colleges.
“We will identify and address the shortcomings in the current system. A clear roadmap will be drawn within a month to ensure visible improvement in public sanitation,” said Ram, while speaking to the media. He added that the new campaign will also focus on enforcing rules and correcting administrative negligence.
Challenges Noted:
Although the PMC has previously run awareness drives under the Swachh Bharat banner, results have not sustained due to lack of monitoring and accountability. Officials often turn a blind eye to lapses, resulting in growing urban squalor.
Ram stated that a major focus will be on building a system where administrative performance and citizen participation go hand-in-hand. He called for mutual responsibility and pledged stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure consistent cleanliness across the city.
