Bhopal wins no Swachh Survekshan award despite Rs 100 crore spend; Indore-Depalpur retain place

Bhopal received no award or notable ranking in Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, despite Rs 100 crore being spent on cleanliness drives and waste management. The result for the state capital has raised questions about the working of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC). Comparisons are also being drawn between the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) and the BMC, particularly because the Indore-Depalpur pair retained its place in the Swachh City Pair category.

Experts have listed several cleanliness practices adopted in Indore and Depalpur. They said these were not seen in Bhopal, which may explain the capital's weak showing.

In all 15 wards of Depalpur, 100 per cent of waste was collected door to door. The corporation's team removed all open garbage bins from Depalpur and distributed more than 15,000 dustbins to residents. A strict four-bin system was introduced to segregate waste into dry, wet, sanitary and special, or hazardous, waste.

About 1,250 tonnes of legacy waste that had accumulated in Depalpur over the years was cleared through bioremediation, a process in which micro-organisms help break down toxic substances in soil, water and air. Special cleaning drives were held in the back lanes of residential areas, and efforts were made to stop waste being dumped in open spaces. Alongside the cleaning work, the historic Surajkund stepwell was restored and beautified. Under the IMC's guidance, the working methods of sanitation workers, the waste management system and the monitoring mechanism were strengthened.

For Bhopal, the Adampur landfill remains the biggest hurdle. About 6.5 lakh tonnes of old waste has accumulated there. The matter of Adampur's legacy waste is pending in the Supreme Court. A delay in the tender process kept the waste removal project stalled for more than 10 days.

Saurashtra Enviro Projects has processed 2.18 lakh tonnes of waste under a Rs 53 crore contract. The remaining waste is to be removed by March 31, 2027. The same company also holds a Rs 48 crore contract to process about 800 tonnes of fresh waste daily.

More than Rs 50 crore of the BMC's annual sanitation expenditure is reported to have gone on survey-related activities.

Bhopal had ranked second in 2017, 2018 and 2024, but missed out on any award this time. According to officials, its Water Plus and Garbage Free City certifications are still valid.

Experts say the BMC must strengthen its waste management system, step up monitoring and implement cleanliness initiatives effectively. They say better planning, public participation and accountability in the use of funds could help Bhopal improve its cleanliness standards and perform better in future surveys.