CHANDIGARH | The holy city of Sri Anandpur Sahib, blessed by the supreme sacrifices of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, has earned national recognition for its cleanliness, emerging as Punjab’s Best Swachh City in Swachh Survekshan 2025-26. The honour reflects the Bhagwant Mann government’s commitment to preserving the sanctity and dignity of Punjab’s holy cities, where cleanliness is not merely an administrative responsibility but a matter of faith, devotion and collective responsibility. Building on the exemplary arrangements made during the 350th Shaheedi Diwas commemorations, the Bhagwant Mann government will now replicate Sri Anandpur Sahib’s cleanliness model across Punjab, with a special focus on Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Sri Talwandi Sabo, transforming them into role model cities.
Addressing a press conference, Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “The dedication of the Bhagwant Mann government was on full display during the 350th Shaheedi Diwas commemorations of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji and his companions Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji and Bhai Dayala Ji, when lakhs of devotees witnessed clean streets, smooth sanitation and seamless arrangements at Sri Anandpur Sahib.”
Crediting the achievement to CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership and the tireless work of municipal officers, sanitation workers and residents under Mission Clean Punjab, the Local Government Minister stated, “Under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s guidance, we worked with devotion and discipline. The arrangements at Sri Anandpur Sahib became a model for all. The cleanliness drive under Mission Clean Punjab has already produced visible improvements in Amritsar, Ludhiana and other cities. Over 2,000 Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs) were identified across the state, of which more than 1,300 have been removed. All major cities will soon have modern solid waste processing plants.”
Emphasising the government’s focus on urban development, Minister Harjot Singh Bains added, “Our focus is on our cities. The goal is to make Punjab’s urban areas cleaner, greener and more liveable. Sri Anandpur Sahib’s recognition has only increased our responsibility.” He also thanked the city’s residents for their cooperation and wholehearted support.
Highlighting the welfare measures for sanitation workers, the Cabinet Minister stated, “The Bhagwan Mann government has brought outsourced sanitation workers under direct contracts, regularised contractual workers who have completed 5 years of service, and increased the monthly remuneration of contractual sanitation staff to ₹20,520, ensuring job security and dignity for those who keep Punjab clean. The first function to honour these workers and hand over regularisation letters was held in Nangal.”
Minister Harjot Singh Bains further stated, “The department has set up a state-of-the-art control room in Sri Amritsar Sahib that maps every street and household through GPS to monitor door-to-door garbage collection and sanitation in real time. We are using advanced technology. We can show which sweeper reached which lane and when waste was collected from a household.”
The Cabinet Minister added, “The Bhagwant Mann government is giving special focus to Sri Amritsar Sahib, including Sri Darbar Sahib, Durgiana Temple and the Wagah border, and wants to develop Amritsar as a model city for cleanliness. The holy cities of Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Sri Talwandi Sabo will be developed as role model cities.”
Thanking officials and sanitation workers, Minister Harjot Singh Bains emphasised, “Their tireless work, even in cold conditions during the commemorative events marking the 350th Shaheedi Diwas, has helped Punjab earn national recognition. This is a collective achievement. I thank every sanitation worker, officer and resident who contributed.”
