Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) may struggle to secure a high score in the visible cleanliness category of Swachh Survekshan-2024, which could impact the city’s overall performance.

With 1,500 marks out of a total of 12,500 dedicated to visible cleanliness, the city has room to excel in areas like regular sweeping, cleanliness of water bodies and maintaining cleanliness near tourist spots.

However, Bhopal’s ranking may be threatened by challenges in key indicators such as ensuring all areas are free from Red and Yellow Spots (150 marks), maintaining cleanliness in slums (125 marks) and addressing the storm water drains and nallahs (200 marks), which together make up a significant portion of the marks.

Despite these issues, BMC has made notable strides in improving sanitation access, particularly in curbing open defecation, which could help boost its score. The city's efforts to tackle cleanliness issues will determine its final standing.

BMC vows garbage-free city BMC's Additional Commissioner, Devendra Singh Chauhan, spoke to Free Press about the corporation’s resolve to enhance cleanliness in the city, especially with Swachh Survekshan-2024 on the horizon.

Chauhan assured that this year, visible cleanliness would be the primary focus, and no garbage would be left unattended in the city, including in large slum areas like Anna Nagar and Roshanpura. Hesaid that while the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking steps, the biggest challenge is public awareness and participation.

Key indicators

The following is the detailed distribution of marks across the 13 indicators for the visible cleanliness category:

1. Once-a-day sweeping in all residential areas - 100 marks

2. Sweeping in commercial areas, public areas, etc. - 100 marks

3. Clean and well-maintained back lanes - 75 marks

4. ULB is open storage bin-free and has installed adequate twin bins - 100 marks

5. ULB is Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) free and has no GVPs - 100 marks

6. All areas are free from Red Spots - 75 marks

7. All areas are free from Yellow Spots - 75 marks

8. Cleanliness of storm water drains and nallahs - 200 marks

9. Cleanliness of water bodies and surrounding areas - 150 marks

10. Aesthetics, beautification and urban air quality - 200 marks

11. Cleanliness of slums - 125 marks

12. Cleanliness within school premises - 100 marks

13. Cleanliness around tourist areas, monuments, parks, and gardens - 100 marks

Total Marks: 1,500 marks