ROORKEE: From 2017 to 2019, Roorkee topped the list of the cleanest cities in the state. But in the 2023 Swachch Sarvekshan (SS) rankings, it has slipped to third place.
In fact, the slide started in 2020 itself when it lost its top position and climbed down to second in the list, a position it held till 2022 before slipping further.
Many believe that the primary factor contributing to this decline is the expansion of the Roorkee Municipal Corporation (RMC).In 2019, the number of wards increased to 40, encompassing many nearby rural areas, compared to the previous 20 wards.
“The infrastructure in these newly included rural wards lagged behind the main city, affecting RMC’s ability to effectively manage priorities for the SS rankings. That’s why it dropped to second place,” former Mayor Yash Pal Rana reasoned.
The havoc wreaked by last year’s rainy season in many wards also affected the city’s chances. “The absence of a proper drainage system in the newly included areas led to prolonged water immersion during the rainy season. Until and unless a proper drainage system is laid in these areas, RMC could not be successful in achieving an illustrious ranking in SS in the coming years,” councillor Navneet Sharma from South Civil Lines ward said.
Meanwhile, RMC officials said that despite many challenges, the city had earned 800 points more than the previous year’s 3,700 points. They also said the underwaste segregation processing account may contribute an additional 500 points as the trommel plant established by RMC remained non-functional during the survey team’s August inspection. “We are sure that we will improve our ranking next year,” assistant municipal commissioner Sanjay Kumar told TOI.
In fact, the slide started in 2020 itself when it lost its top position and climbed down to second in the list, a position it held till 2022 before slipping further.
Many believe that the primary factor contributing to this decline is the expansion of the Roorkee Municipal Corporation (RMC).In 2019, the number of wards increased to 40, encompassing many nearby rural areas, compared to the previous 20 wards.
“The infrastructure in these newly included rural wards lagged behind the main city, affecting RMC’s ability to effectively manage priorities for the SS rankings. That’s why it dropped to second place,” former Mayor Yash Pal Rana reasoned.
The havoc wreaked by last year’s rainy season in many wards also affected the city’s chances. “The absence of a proper drainage system in the newly included areas led to prolonged water immersion during the rainy season. Until and unless a proper drainage system is laid in these areas, RMC could not be successful in achieving an illustrious ranking in SS in the coming years,” councillor Navneet Sharma from South Civil Lines ward said.
Meanwhile, RMC officials said that despite many challenges, the city had earned 800 points more than the previous year’s 3,700 points. They also said the underwaste segregation processing account may contribute an additional 500 points as the trommel plant established by RMC remained non-functional during the survey team’s August inspection. “We are sure that we will improve our ranking next year,” assistant municipal commissioner Sanjay Kumar told TOI.
