EVEN as the Directorate f Urban Administration and Development expects the people of Bhopal to offer their feed back on Swachh Sarvekshan 2024 on designated digital platforms, there is also a need for the administration to put in motion a proactive drive to know the reality about how clean the city of Bhopal actually is and what more needs to be done to improve the overall standards of cleanliness. The loosefooter finds it necessary to make this observation because he -- and every Bhopalite -- realises that the Capital City of Madhya Pradesh needs a stronger push for its Swacch Bhopal Abhiyan. No matter the political tall talk about swachhta in the lake city, the reality is that the people still finds mountains of garbage waiting to be cleared for days on end. And beyond those mounts of garbage, there also is a general absence of effort on the part of the administration to keep the city clean.

 

If this glaring failure is not noticed by the civic administration, then asking for people’s feedback on digital apps has only a little value. There is reason to suspect that the people in the civic administration appear to be interested more in digital response to the Swachh Sarvekshan than actual work to keep the city clean all the time and in all corners. It is, of course, all right that the common people send in their feedback on different digital platforms -- which the administration can use in preparing the report of the survey. That digital initiative may give Bhopal a few brownie points, all right. But will that actually ensure proper cleaning up of the city and its proper upkeep in that regard? To this question, an easy answer may not be forthcoming easily. In fact, the overall urban design of Bhopal is quite good and conducive to the idea of a clean, modern metropolis.

 

Any first-time visitor to the city often feels impressed with Bhopal’s overall persona and its fine mix of modernity and history. Despite this, the trouble is that the overall impression of Bhopal is not of a clean, well-kept city -- much against the purpose of the Swachh Bhopal initiative. Those who roam the city streets on a daily basis realise that Bhopal needs a conscious and concerted work to keep its roads and public places really clean. It much be conceded that massive efforts are needed on a daily basis to keep a city of the shape and size of Bhopal in clean condition all the time. That such a project will require huge manpower, is only a part of the truth.

 

The other and more important part relates to vision. In other words, the city’s cleanliness will depend on how its leadership looks at the task. On this point, the city’s leadership -- political and bureaucratic -- needs to sit down together and evolve not just a vision but also a sustainable plan of action for a long term and short term implementation. n