Finance
Odisha has gained national acclaim for its initiatives in urban cleanliness, sanitation, and sustainable waste management at the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025–26, with Puri being ranked the highest in the Swachh Coastal Town category, officials stated.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, along with Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, received the award from President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.
In addition to the state’s accomplishments, Bhubaneswar was acknowledged as Odisha’s inaugural State Swachh City, and Aska Municipality attained the second position in the Urban Local Bodies category for populations between 20,000 and 50,000.
The accomplishments underscore the state’s endeavors to enhance sanitation standards, bolster waste management systems, and promote public involvement in cleanliness initiatives, officials stated.
The acknowledgment also highlights the joint efforts of the state government, Urban Local Bodies, sanitation workers, and citizens in enhancing urban sanitation systems and fostering sustainable cleanliness methods.
The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025–26 signify the tenth iteration of the national urban cleanliness and sanitation evaluation carried out under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban.
This year’s edition, themed ‘Swachhata Ki Nayi Pehel – Badhayein Haath, Karein Safai Saath’, commemorates ten years of initiatives aimed at improving urban sanitation via citizen involvement, institutional responsibility, and positive competition among cities.
The award ceremony saw the participation of Binaya Kumar Dash, Special Secretary-cum-Mission Director of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban); Sulochana Das, Mayor of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation; the Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation; representatives from Puri Municipal Corporation; along with the Chairman and Executive Officer of Aska Municipality.
The acknowledgment is anticipated to bolster Odisha’s initiatives for sustainable waste management, enhanced urban sanitation, and the creation of cleaner, healthier, and more livable cities throughout the state.
