Chandigarh: The Punjab government has extended its state-wide cleanliness campaign by four days after thousands of residents reported civic problems through the M-Seva app. More than 5,400 complaints have so far been resolved on the ground.
The government has also planned four mega cleanliness drives over the next four Saturdays to keep residents involved in sanitation work across the state. Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced on Tuesday (September 8) that the ‘Cleanliness Campaign 2.0’, which began on August 29, will now continue until September 12. Speaking at a press conference at MC Bhawan in Chandigarh, Bains said residents had submitted 6,459 complaints through the M-Seva app since the campaign began. Of these, 5,407, or more than 83 per cent, has been resolved.
The minister appealed to residents to set aside two to three hours on Saturday mornings to take part in cleaning parks, markets and neighbourhoods. The government plans to turn the campaign into a regular public participation programme. The drives will involve NGOs, market associations, youth clubs, religious organisations and Resident Welfare Associations. “This is just the beginning.
Four mega cleanliness drives will be held over the next four Saturdays, beginning September 12. The minister said he has visited Kurali, Kharar and Nangal during the previous 10 days and spent two to three hours each day on the ground.
“Following a massive surge in citizen participation and an influx of complaints through the M-Seva app on the last day, the Bhagwant Mann government decided to extend the campaign till September 12,” he said. With the blessings of our elders and the energy of our youth, Punjab will set a new benchmark in urban sanitation,” the minister said.
