Collective Efforts Needed to Secure Top Rank in Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 – Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar

Pimpri-Chinchwad | Pimpri-Chinchwad city is known as an industrial city and also as a city of workers and laborers. However, now we have to make Pimpri-Chinchwad a clean, green, and prosperous city. To secure the top rank in Swachh Survekshan 2025–26, it is essential that all representatives, citizens, and voluntary organizations work together along with the Municipal Corporation, stated Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar. He also assured that the state government will provide all necessary assistance for this.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission implemented by the Government of India, Pimpri-Chinchwad city ranked seventh in the country and first in the state in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25. Additionally, the city received the 7-Star Garbage-Free City and Water-Plus certification. For this achievement, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation was honored with an award by the central government. The felicitation of those who contributed to this success and the launch of preparations for Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 was held today at Prof. Ramkrishna More Auditorium, Chinchwad, at the hands of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

On this occasion, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Anna Bansode, MP Shrirang Appa Barne, MLAs Uma Khapre and Amit Gorkhe, Member of Maharashtra State Scheduled Castes and Tribes Commission Adv. Gorakh Lokhande, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh, Additional Commissioners Pradeep Jambhale Patil and Vijaykumar Khorate, Chief Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni, Co-City Engineer Bapu Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioners Sachin Pawar and Anna Bodade, Chief Security Officer Uday Jarande, Chief Disaster Management Officer Omprakash Bahival, Special Officer Kiran Gaikwad, Public Relations Officer Prafulla Puranik, former Mayor Yogesh Behl, former Deputy Mayor Raju Misal, former corporators Nana Kate, Prashant Shitole, Narayan Bahivare, Pankaj Bhalekar, Shyam Lande, Uttam Shetty, Swati alias Mai Kate, other former corporators, corporators, various social activists, along with officials and employees of various departments of the Municipal Corporation and citizens were present.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar unveiled the RRR Center Dashboard System, Zero Waste Project Dashboard System, Swachh Toilet App, the Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 mascot and slogan, as well as the Harit Setu Project logo. A film was shown providing information about these projects and the various environmental initiatives undertaken by the Municipal Corporation.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said that if all citizens of the city contribute to keeping Pimpri-Chinchwad clean, our city will definitely rank among the top three cities in the country. Let us plan accordingly and start working towards it from today itself. As the city’s population is increasing and urbanization is happening rapidly, it is necessary to give importance to cleanliness. Cleanliness should begin with oneself. The Municipal Corporation is constantly striving to keep the city clean, but it also requires the cooperation of citizens, public representatives, and NGOs, he added.

In Pimpri-Chinchwad, around 1,400 tonnes of waste is generated daily. With changing lifestyles, the volume of waste is increasing, and attention needs to be paid to this, Ajit Pawar said. He further stated that Indore city ranks first in the country’s cleanliness survey due to significant contribution from its citizens. Citizens of Pimpri-Chinchwad should also cooperate with the Municipal Corporation in the same way. Many times, when we go abroad, we follow the rules there and do not throw garbage on roads or in the open, fearing penalties. However, we do not follow these rules in India. India is our motherland, and it is here that we have to shape the next generation. Therefore, it is necessary to focus primarily on keeping our city clean, and this should start with ourselves, he appealed.

MP Shrirang Appa Barne said that solid waste management in Pimpri-Chinchwad city has been given good priority. The Municipal Corporation continuously strives to provide better services to citizens. Citizens must also cooperate with the administration to keep the city clean. In the future, the work of rejuvenating Pavana, Indrayani, and Mula rivers in the city will be completed, but attention should also be paid to the cleanliness of the rivers while doing so, he added.

Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh, in his welcome address, said that the real architects of the success achieved by Pimpri-Chinchwad in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 are our sanitation workers and citizens. Our goal is to achieve first rank in the country in terms of cleanliness. The success achieved in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 has given us the motivation to work enthusiastically towards this goal, he added.

The program was compered by Dr. Swati Mahalkar. Additional Commissioner Vijaykumar Khorate delivered the vote of thanks.

Felicitating Shravani Tonge Heading to Germany

Shravani Tonge, a student of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj English Medium School, Kasarwadi, under Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, has been selected at the prestigious Robert Bosch College of the United World College (UWC) institution in Germany. Her admission for the academic session starting on 28th August 2025 has been confirmed.

Honoring Contributors of Swachh Survekshan 2024–25

The successful performance in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 saw significant contributions from citizens, public representatives, NGOs, municipal officials, and employees. As a token of appreciation, they were felicitated by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

Among those felicitated were sanitation workers Anusaya Wakchaure, Vaishali Marne, sanitation staff Shivanand Mochi, Laxman Panchal, Ganga Waghmare, Mangesh Raghurav, Deepak Shinde, Sitaram Date, waste collection vehicle drivers Raju Devkar, Nilesh Kamble, IEC members Aniket Pawar, Shubhangi Rathod, Yogita Dhakre, Sukhdev Lokhande, Anilkumar Patil, Surekha Ingle, Rohan Vadmare, Kushal More, Swachhata Doot Pooja Shelar, Surekha Dolas, Sangeeta Joshi, Aditi Nikam, Yashwant Kanhere, RJ Bandya, Ishita Barwad, Navi Disha Mahila Bahuuddeshiya Mandal, Vaishnavi Bachat Gat, municipal zonal officers Nivedita Gharge, Ashwini Gaikwad, Ajinkya Yele, Amit Pandit, Tanaji Narle, Atul Patil, Kishor Nanaware, Pooja Dudhanale, Assistant Health Officers Raju Sable, Ankush Jhite, Sudhir Waghmare, Kishor Darwade, Shantaram Mane, Mahesh Adhav, Rajesh Bhat, Shriram Gaikwad, among others.

Additionally, Chief Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni, Executive Engineers Harvindsingh Bansal, Satvashil Shitole, Anil Bhalsakhle; Drainage Department Executive Engineers Vinay Owhal, Rajendra Jawale, Prerna Sinkar, Jahira Momin; Chief Chemist Uma Bhoge; Sub-engineer Yogesh Alhat; NGO representatives Sharad Tandon, Chaitanya Berde, Jose Jacob, Sanju Jacob, Shiju Antony, Mahendra Ananthula, Brijesh Kumar, Aniket Jadhav, Rohit Apte, Prakash Sanchaniya and others were felicitated.

Honoring Winners of Cleanliness Slogan and Mascot Competition

In connection with Swachh Survekshan 2025–26, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation organized a cleanliness slogan and mascot design competition. A total of 342 entries were received for the slogan competition. Girish Kute won the prize in this competition. The mascot design competition also received an enthusiastic response, and Atul Waghmaitar’s mascot design won the prize. Both were felicitated and awarded by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

Prize Distribution for Winners of ‘Harit Setu’ Project Brand Design Competition

In association with the Association of Designers of India, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation organized a brand design competition under the Harit Setu Project. In this competition, the first prize of ₹3 lakh was won by Prajwal Jaysingh Dinde, the second prize of ₹2 lakh by Rohit Rajendra Ghodke, and the third prize of ₹50,000 each by Amol Sonu Dardi and Shaurya Bhardwaj. A special jury prize was won by Naser Mehbub Sheikh. All winners were felicitated with cash prizes, mementos, and certificates by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Those who worked hard to make this competition successful, including Co-City Engineer Bapu Gaikwad, Jury Head Ashwini Deshpande, ITDP’s Kashmira Mehdora, PDA’s Prasanna Desai, and Association of Designers of India members Ranjana Dani, Pournima Bhurte, Chandrashekhar Badwe, Rigved Deshpande, were also honored on the occasion.