Ludhiana/Chandigarh, December 30 Punjab has emerged as one of the better-performing states in the country in solid waste management during 2025, with several urban local bodies (ULBs) receiving national recognition under the Swachh Survekshan conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Municipal Corporation Bathinda was awarded the Swachh Shahar Award, while 25 ULBs were certified as Garbage Free Star-1 and one ULB achieved Garbage Free Star-3 status. Besides this, 46 ULBs were certified as Pani+, 53 as ODF++, 43 as ODF+ and 22 as ODF, according to data shared by the state government.
Punjab Local Government Minister Dr Ravjot Singh said the state has made significant progress in managing legacy waste under its solid waste disposal initiative. Of the total 84.09 lakh metric tonnes of old waste identified across 131 ULBs, around 40.78 lakh metric tonnes have already been processed. A roadmap has been prepared to clear the remaining 43.31 lakh metric tonnes in 35 ULBs by April 2027.
The minister said emphasis was laid on improving fresh waste management during the year through door-to-door collection, segregation at source and scientific processing. Of the total 4,008 tonnes per day (TPD) of solid waste generated, about 3,243 TPD (81 per cent) of wet waste is being processed through composting, bio-methanation and recycling of dry waste.
To strengthen waste collection and transportation, 9,812 tricycles and 3,162 mechanical vehicles have been deployed, while 8,436 compost pits and 276 material recovery facilities have been constructed across the state.
Dr Singh said several projects under the Smart Cities Mission are at various stages of completion in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Sultanpur Lodhi. In Ludhiana, 71 projects worth Rs 769.18 crore have been completed, while eight projects worth Rs 138.05 crore are underway. Amritsar has completed 19 projects worth Rs 580 crore, with 10 projects worth Rs 245 crore in progress.
Similarly, 56 projects worth Rs 771.57 crore have been completed in Jalandhar, with four projects worth Rs 162.88 crore under development. In Sultanpur Lodhi, six projects worth Rs 29.57 crore have been completed, while 14 projects worth Rs 136.28 crore are in progress.
Apart from Smart City works, infrastructure projects worth Rs 850 crore have been executed in 166 ULBs with Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) funding since March 2022. Development works worth Rs 1,700 crore have also been carried out using municipal corporation funds, while projects worth Rs 450 crore have been completed in five municipal corporations and 49 municipal councils.
As part of efforts to reduce air pollution, 1,200 old diesel auto-rickshaws in Amritsar have been replaced with electric autos under the RAAHI scheme. Additionally, 200 pink e-autos were provided to women beneficiaries at a 90 per cent subsidy. The state is also procuring 447 e-buses for major cities including Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and SAS Nagar (Mohali).
The minister said doorstep delivery of municipal services has been implemented to improve citizen convenience, while GIS-based digitisation of water supply and sewerage networks has been completed for 16 AMRUT towns and Sultanpur Lodhi. Under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2024–25 scheme, Punjab has received an incentive of Rs 32 crore.
