Pune: In light of increasing complaints regarding garbage accumulation and ineffective civic enforcement, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is preparing to roll out a comprehensive cleanliness initiative across the city. The newly appointed Municipal Commissioner, Naval Kishore Ram, has announced a dedicated cleanliness campaign—’Swachh Pune Abhiyan’—inspired by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. This drive will aim to combine systemic reform with strong public involvement.
As his first significant initiative since taking office, Commissioner Ram brought together various stakeholders—including NGOs, civic organizations, and senior municipal officials—to chart a detailed plan for the campaign. The meeting emphasized the need for a structured and participative approach, targeting both policy gaps and grassroots execution.
The meeting saw the presence of representatives from Rotary Club, Ecoexist, Swachh Pune Seva Sahakari Sanstha, Pune Retailers Association, Maratha Chamber of Commerce, Puneri Nayak, NSCC, Dr. Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Foundation, Credai, Jewellers Association, among others. Senior PMC officials such as Additional Commissioners M.J. Pradeep Chandran, Prithviraj B.P., Omprakash Divate, and Deputy Commissioner for Solid Waste Management, Sandeep Kadam, also attended.
Issues Highlighted:
Mounting garbage piles in public spaces
Ineffective implementation of cleanliness directives at the ward level
Poor coordination among field-level officials such as circle commissioners, assistant commissioners, and health inspectors
Commissioner Ram noted that while cleanliness directives have been issued in the past, enforcement has remained weak. The new campaign aims to address these shortcomings through a clearly defined plan that includes proper waste segregation, promotion of home composting, involvement of bulk waste producers, and awareness programs targeting communities, schools, and colleges.
“This is not just about launching another campaign. It’s about correcting the gaps in our system and ensuring a sustainable model for public cleanliness,” Ram stated during a press briefing. He emphasized the dual focus on civic discipline and community engagement, adding that a detailed roadmap will be created within the month to drive improvements in urban sanitation.
Despite earlier efforts under the Swachh Bharat initiative, PMC’s previous campaigns struggled due to lack of ongoing oversight and poor accountability among officials. These deficiencies often led to neglect, undermining long-term results.
To tackle these issues, Commissioner Ram stressed the importance of shared responsibility between citizens and the administration. He assured that the new plan would include robust monitoring systems and stricter enforcement protocols to uphold sanitation standards citywide.
The ‘Swachh Pune Abhiyan’ is set to be launched in the coming month, and PMC hopes it will mark a turning point in how cleanliness efforts are implemented and sustained in Pune.
