The metropolis is ranked 29 in the list of clean cities while Navi Mumbai fared better to claim the eighth spot.
As per the Swachh Survekshan Survey-2017 conducted by the government Mumbai ranked 29 in the list of clean cities while Navi Mumbai improved its ranking by four places to claim the eighth spot. Mumbaikars are unhappy with the latest ranking of the city when it comes to cleanliness. Even though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had undertaken cleanliness drive to make Mumbai clean but results are not visible. Thus a question which arises here is the time starved Mumbaikar unable to take efforts to make his city clean? The Modi government had launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign with an aim to make India clean by 2019. The initiative had turned out to be photo-op moment as celebrities and politicians were busy clicking photos by picking up broom in their hands to sweep roads. However the initiative failed to sustain over a period of time as people started losing interest in the campaign. Even today one can see loads of garbage being thrown outside Borivali station.
Arjun Deshpande an accountant employed with a financial services firm in Andheri said, “Last year, I was pleased with the 10th spot claimed by Mumbai in the list of cleanest cities of India. However, I am unhappy with this year’s results as Mumbai has lost out to Navi Mumbai which stood at eighth position.”
Sumit Jain a BPO employee from Malad said, “The BMC always makes tall claims about making the city garbage free. However, many times waste lies unattended outside housing societies. Sometimes it is dumped beside roads. Mumbaikars will really have to pull up their socks to improve the city’s ranking.”
Siddharth Desle a Borivali resident, “According to me, Mumbai must take a leaf out of Navi Mumbai which has improved its ranking to 8th position. The BMC had appealed to citizens to segregate wet and dry waste in two separate containers. However nobody is following this norm as everything is dumped in a single bin.”
Mohit Vyas a F.Y Bsc student from Dahisar said, “Instead of blaming the civic body citizens should come forward and take responsibility for keeping the city clean. Moreover, people should refrain from throwing waste outside their window panes. They should dispose the waste in dust bins instead of making their surroundings dirty.”
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lauded the efforts of Navi Mumbaikars to keep their city clean. He tweeted, “Congratulations to all citizens & administration of #NaviMumbai for being among the Top 10 cleanest cities in Swacch Survekshan 2017.”
“I am happy with the improved ranking of Navi Mumbai in the list of clean cities. Each resident of the city has taken effort to make the city clean and even Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has done a good job. I hope people will cooperate with the civic body to improve its ranking next year.” said Sudhakar Sonawane, NMMC mayor.
Last year’s survey ranked 73 cities across the country in which 1 lakh citizens had given their feedback. The top 10 cities are: Indore, Bhopal, Vizag, Surat, Mysore, Tiruchirapalli, New Delhi Municipal Council, Navi Mumbai, Tirupati and Vadodara.
