MCC to appoint ‘Swachhata Marshals’ in every ward

Chandigarh: The municipal corporation Saturday organised a sensitisation workshop on implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and promotion of waste segregation at source.

It was decided that ward-level awareness camps involving all stakeholders will be organised across the city. The civic body will also appoint “Swachhata Marshals” in every ward to strengthen public participation, monitoring and compliance with segregation norms.

The workshop was chaired by mayor Saurabh Joshi in the presence of MC commissioner Amit Kumar and other senior officers.

Councillors highlighted key sanitation issues, including improper disposal of flower waste, especially near temples, garbage accumulation around bus stands, hotels, dhabas and vulnerable points in Daria. Concerns over door-to-door collection, cleanliness of back lanes, monitoring of sanitation staff and waste segregation in PGs and rented accommodations were also raised. Issues related to waste generated by juice vendors, meat shops, langar organisers, boutiques and tailoring units were flagged.

The mayor stressed community participation and directed officials to appoint Swachhata Marshals in each ward for awareness and enforcement support. He urged residents and commercial establishments to cooperate in improving cleanliness and sustainability.

He also highlighted key provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, including mandatory source segregation, prohibition on open dumping, accountability of bulk waste generators, implementation of the polluter pays principle through user charges, and digital monitoring with transparent reporting mechanisms.