Pimpri Chinchwad named Maharashtra’s cleanest city in Swachh Survekshan survey
Civic activists and opposition leaders have questioned the recognition, citing concerns over waste management and the performance of Pune Municipal Corporation.
Pimpri Chinchwad has been recognised as the cleanest city in Maharashtra in the Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 survey, according to The Times of India. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conducted the cleanliness assessment, which awarded the city first place in the state for cities with more than 10 lakh residents.
The award was handed out during a ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday. The ministry stated that the survey used 43 indicators across 10 assessment areas, including waste segregation, solid waste management, and sanitation access, evaluated by over 3,000 assessors.
Pimpri Chinchwad Mayor Ravi Landge said the award is a tribute to collective efforts and the participation of citizens and sanitation workers. Civic Commissioner Vijay Suryavanshi added that the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) focused on planned methodology, technology, and waste segregation at the source.
However, activist Manav Kamble described the recognition as shocking, noting that garbage heaps are visible in various parts of the city and citing a mishap at the Moshi garbage depot. Another activist, Maruti Bhapkar, said the parameters for the award should be made public so taxpayers can understand the selection.
In Pune, Congress leader Prashant Jagtap claimed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) performance has declined, moving from eighth place in 2024–25 to 12th in 2025–26. He stated that the civic body's claims regarding solid waste management improvements were hollow.
Prajit Nair, additional commissioner of PMC, said the body will analyse its performance once the detailed report and parameter-wise findings are received to determine necessary improvement steps.