Patna: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched a special cleanliness campaign for the festive season. With festivals like Navratri, Diwali and Chhath bringing large gatherings, the city often produces more waste than usual. To deal with this, the corporation has decided to carry out night cleaning and strict monitoring in all zones of the city.
Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar has directed officers of every zone to ensure that public places are cleaned regularly at night. He said that garbage increases sharply during festivals, and this year the target is to make Patna “garbage-free” and “plastic-free.” Special teams have been formed for this purpose, with extra vehicles and manpower deployed to keep up with the workload.
The campaign will be run in all six zones of Patna — Nutan Rajdhani, Pataliputra, Kankarbagh, Bankipur, Azimabad and Patna City. Executive officers of these zones have been asked to personally monitor the cleaning work. Surprise inspections will also be carried out, while the Integrated Control Command Centre (ICCC) will track the night cleaning activities in real time using smart devices.
Alongside cleaning, the corporation is also focusing on public awareness. Programs like “Roko-Toko Abhiyan” and “Freedom from Waste” are being organised to educate people about the dangers of plastic and the importance of proper waste disposal. The “No Plastic-Fantastic” campaign, which began in August, has already started penalising the use of single-use plastic. Shopkeepers and citizens are being encouraged to adopt alternatives to plastic bags and materials.
The corporation has also asked people to cooperate in the campaign. Residents can report those who litter or throw waste in the wrong places by calling the helpline 155304 or by using the official WhatsApp chatbot. In its appeal, PMC reminded people of the slogan “My city, my responsibility,” urging everyone to use dustbins and support the drive to make Patna cleaner during the festive season.
