Surat from Gujarat Named the Cleanest City Among 131 Cities in the Country; Find Out the Prize Amount
Surat, which secured 13th place as the cleanest city in the country last year, has now achieved a significant success. In the Clean Air Survey 2024, Surat surpassed 131 cities across the country to attain the first rank. The Diamond City scored 194 out of a total of 200 marks.
Surat Makes Significant Progress This Year
This year, Surat has made a remarkable leap. The city has successfully reduced PM10 particles by 12.71% in 2023-24. In last year’s survey, Surat was ranked 13th while Indore took the top spot.
The improvement in Surat’s ranking in 2023 is attributed to the resolution of previous deficiencies, implementation of necessary measures, and addressing shortcomings.
Surat to be Honored with National Clean Air City Award
On September 7, Surat will be recognized for its achievement at a ceremony held under the National Mission for Clean Air program in Jaipur. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will present Surat with the National Clean Air City honor, which includes a prize of ₹1.5 crore, a trophy, and a certificate.
Government Initiative to Evaluate Efforts for Air Quality Improvement
To enhance air quality in Indian cities, the central government launched the Clean Air Survey initiative to evaluate the efforts of non-attainment cities. The program aims to achieve a 30% reduction in air pollutants.
Evaluation Criteria and Surat’s Initiatives for Air Quality Improvement
Cities are evaluated based on eight factors, including:
- Solid waste management
- Road dust
- Dust from construction and demolition waste
- Vehicle emissions
- Industrial emissions
- Public awareness programs
- Improvement in air quality
The Surat Municipal Corporation has implemented various projects worth ₹5,000 crore over five years to improve air quality. These initiatives include:
- Using mechanical sweepers to remove 4,200 metric tons of dust from roads annually
- Employing 35% e-vehicles for door-to-door garbage collection, resulting in an annual reduction of 7,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions
Surat’s Efforts in Sustainable Construction and Public Transport
With the collaboration of the World Resources Institute, Surat has implemented clean construction guidelines across 280 operational projects, focusing on reducing the use of natural resources and managing construction and demolition waste. Additionally, the city operates 580 e-buses in public transport.
