Swachh Survekshan: Hyderabad tops State with 7-star status, SCB recognised for clean practices

Hyderabad: Hyderabad has become the first city in Telangana to earn the coveted seven-star ‘garbage-free’ status under Swachh Survekshan.

The city also bagged two other national honours, including its fourth consecutive Water Plus certification, establishing itself as India’s top performer in integrated urban sanitation.

Three national awards for Hyderabad

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) secured two key awards – the 7-Star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating and the Water Plus certification – while the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) was recognised for its excellence in solid waste management and sanitation best practices.

Rapid rise in cleanliness rankings

Hyderabad’s progress has been swift over the past two years.

From a 2-Star rating in Swachh Survekshan Rankings (SSR) 2022, it rose to 3-Star in 2023 and now has achieved the highest seven-star status.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), cities are rated from one to seven stars, with higher ratings indicating exceptional performance in cleanliness, waste processing, and citizen engagement.

Among cities with populations over 10 lakh, only three have earned the 7-Star rating so far, placing Hyderabad in this elite group.

What does the ‘Garbage-Free City’ rating measure?

The GFC assessment evaluates critical parameters including door-to-door waste collection, segregation at source, transportation, scientific processing and disposal of waste, visible cleanliness, citizen feedback and grievance redressal.

Of the total 12,500 marks in the Swachh Survekshan Rankings, 1,300 are allotted to GFC performance, while 10,000 marks cover ten sanitation and waste management parameters. The remaining 1,200 marks focus on citizen feedback.

Water Plus certification for wastewater treatment

Hyderabad also retained its Water Plus certification for the fourth consecutive year, awarded to cities that effectively treat 100 per cent of wastewater before discharge as per Central Pollution Control Board norms.

This achievement was made possible by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB), which operates sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the city.

Although HMWS&SB executes these projects, GHMC receives the award as the nodal urban local body.

Secunderabad Cantonment Board honoured

The Secunderabad Cantonment Board received recognition for adopting innovative best practices in solid waste management. Its systematic door-to-door waste collection, source segregation, processing and disposal initiatives and community engagement models contributed to its award.

Awards to be presented on July 17

President Droupadi Murmu will felicitate the awardees at a ceremony in New Delhi on July 17. GHMC officials confirmed receiving intimation from MoHUA regarding both the seven-star rating and Water Plus certification, while the final Swachh Survekshan rankings for urban local bodies under SSR 2024 are expected later this week.

Welfare of sanitation workers also assessed

The overall welfare of sanitation workers, which carries 500 marks in the rankings, will also determine the final positions of cities. GHMC officials attributed Hyderabad’s achievement to the dedicated efforts of sanitation staff, effective Swachh Hyderabad initiatives, and active public participation, stating that the city has now set a national benchmark for urban cleanliness and wastewater management.