Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Thursday announced a 10-day special cleanliness drive across the state from August 29 to September 7 to eliminate all Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs) under the Punjab government’s ‘Mission Clean Punjab’ initiative.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Bains said the campaign aims to intensify ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and ensure cleaner cities and towns across Punjab. He said the state, known as the sacred land of Gurus and saints, must be kept clean through collective responsibility and public participation.
The minister said all MLAs, Deputy Commissioners, Municipal Corporation Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Executive Officers and various NGOs will participate in the drive. Senior officials are already conducting daily field inspections from 7 am to 8 am as part of the cleanliness mission.
To encourage public involvement, residents will be able to report Garbage Vulnerable Points through the Punjab Government’s M-Seva app by uploading photographs of waste dumping sites in their areas. A unique ID will be generated for every complaint, allowing citizens to track its status and ensuring prompt action by local authorities.
Bains said hundreds of garbage hotspots have already been identified across major cities. Around 600 GVPs have been identified in Amritsar, while nearly 450 have been mapped in Patiala. He said officials and elected representatives will conduct regular morning inspections during the campaign to ensure these sites are cleared.
Describing the initiative as a people’s movement rather than merely a government campaign, the minister urged citizens to actively participate in maintaining cleanliness and preventing littering. He also stressed the importance of respecting sanitation workers and supporting their efforts.
Recalling a recent late-night inspection in Amritsar, Bains said sanitation workers often clean areas thoroughly only to find waste dumped at the same locations again. He appealed to residents to act responsibly and help preserve the cleanliness of their neighbourhoods.
Minister said a dedicated monitoring framework will oversee the campaign, with special teams being formed in every Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council to ensure effective implementation and timely clearance of identified garbage hotspots across the state.
