In a major push to make Punjab garbage-free, Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Thursday announced a 10-day special cleanliness drive from August 29 to September 7 to eliminate all Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs) across the state.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the special drive will further intensify the Bhagwant Mann government’s ‘Mission Clean Punjab’ initiative, under which senior officials are already conducting daily field inspections from 7 am to 8 am. “Punjab is the sacred land of our Gurus and saints, a land of immense spiritual power. It is our collective responsibility to keep it clean and beautiful,” said the Minister, adding that all MLAs, Deputy Commissioners, MC Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Executive Officers and NGOs will participate in the 10-day drive.
He said citizens will also be able to contribute to the campaign through the Punjab Government’s M-Seva app by uploading photographs of Garbage Vulnerable Points in their respective areas. “A unique ID will be generated for every complaint, enabling residents to track the complaint and ensuring prompt action to clear the identified site,” he added.
Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the campaign will focus on eliminating open garbage dumping sites existing across cities and towns of Punjab. He said up to 600 GVPs have been identified in larger cities like Amritsar, while around 450 GVPs have been identified in Patiala. “Over the next 10 days, all MLAs and officials will be on the ground every morning to eliminate GVPs. I myself will be in the field,” he said.
Calling for active participation from the people, the Local Government Minister said the initiative is not merely a government campaign but a people’s movement. He also laid special emphasis on respecting sanitation workers and ensuring that their efforts are not undone by irresponsible dumping.
Recalling his late-night inspection of a cleanliness drive in Amritsar, the Local Government Minister said Safai Sewaks often clean areas thoroughly, only to find waste being dumped at the same locations again shortly afterwards. “We must support our Safai Sewaks. It is our duty to ensure their efforts are not undone by irresponsible dumping,” he added.
Minister Harjot Singh Bains urged residents to download the M-Seva app, upload photographs of Garbage Vulnerable Points in their areas and use the unique ID generated for each complaint to track the clearance process. He also appealed to citizens to actively participate in cleanliness activities in their neighbourhoods and make the campaign a collective movement. “The entire exercise will be closely monitored through a dedicated framework, with special teams to be constituted at every Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council to ensure effective implementation and timely clearance of the identified Garbage Vulnerable Points,” he concluded.
