Jamshedpur, or the Steel City as it is locally called, has once again come to display its potential, not only in industries, but also in terms of cleanliness and urban civicness. In an unprecedented feat, the city has been ranked third in India in the 3 – 10 lakh population category in the recently released Swachh Survekshan rankings. The list of accolades does not end there as Jamshedpur has also been awarded 5-Star Garbage Free City status, and Water+ status, both of which qualify the city as being the first in the state of Jharkhand to achieve both.
This has been made successful due to a well-coordinated effort with the civic bodies and corporate partnership, coupled with the active involvement of people. The city is now making waves in the entire urban sanitation system through its whole-of-city cleaning plan, which entails at least waste source segregation, all the way to safe reuse of treated water.
The move of Jamshedpur in the rankings that marked one of the most important steps in the history of the city was its transition from the position it occupied last year to the highest national ranking of third place. This leap is accredited to its better waste management systems, e-monitoring and higher social consciousness. The city has introduced door-to-door garbage collection, along with proper segregation, has put up a facility to recover material, and is taking stringent action against littering and the use of single-use plastic.
The city has gone a step ahead and encompassed the entire production of wastewater recycling in its sanitation system. A major criterion to achieve the Water+ certification is that treated water is being re-utilized in gardening, washing public places and keeping green belts green. This green solution has aided in the preservation of water and spared the stress on the freshwater supply.
The grassroots involvement can also be said to have not gone without providing Jamshedpur with its share of success in cleanliness. Residential colonies, market associations, schools and community groups are roped in to develop into Zero Waste Societies and composting at both the home and community level. Cleanliness drives and awareness campaigns are organized in a regular manner and are mainly championed by volunteers and sanitation workers collaborating with city officials.
The model of Jamshedpur stands out because of its public-private partnership model. Partnership with corporate and municipal has been done through infrastructure development, sanitation management and technological upgrades. This framework has made it possible to expedite the cleanliness programs and effective resource utilization.
The award for these achievements was a real moment of pride for the people of Jamshedpur. City representatives were being awarded on a national stage, and they were being appreciated for their efforts to make the city cleaner, greener and more livable.
The award is more than a ranking. This is an affirmation of the consistent activities that the city is undertaking to keep the city clean, environmentally friendly, as well as to make the life of people healthier. It is also a moral example to other towns and cities in Jharkhand as well as in the country, to emulate.
As Jamshedpur keeps soaring to great heights not only as an industrial hub, but also as a clean, sustainable and citizen-friendly city, the notion that with a common will and determination, urban India can turn to be a cleaner and responsible society comes to the fore.
