Lucknow / UP – Under the stewardship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Lucknow Municipal Corporation has achieved a landmark rise—securing the third cleanest city spot among India’s million-plus cities in Swachh Survekshan 2024. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu, reflecting recognition at the highest national level
This success is credited significantly to IAS Officer Indrajeet Singh,(batch 2016 of the Uttar Pradesh cadre), who served as Municipal Commissioner of Lucknow from June 26, 2022 onwards . Known for his honesty, simplicity, and disciplined approach, Singh’s hands-on leadership and transparent execution laid the foundation for this achievement.
Leadership with Accountability
During his tenure, Singh instituted a clear strategy across solid waste management and citizen engagement. His focus on visible progress—from door-to-door collection to real-time monitoring—helped foster civic pride and accountability.
Under his guidance:
- Lucknow became Uttar Pradesh’s only 7-star city in solid waste management.
- The city jumped 41 ranks in the cleanliness assessment, reflecting major strides in infrastructure and service quality
- A strict no-tolerance stance was enforced on public littering, with spot fines announced by the Municipal Health Officer to penalize open dumping and encourage behavioural change
A massive garbage dump was also converted into a public park within 60 days, symbolising the government’s rapid and effective action under Yogi Adityanath’s leadership .
Cleanliness Gains Root Under Proactive Governance
Officials and citizens have noted continuous improvements under CM Yogi’s tenure:
- Formation of Mohalla Swachhta Committees to drive grassroots ownership of cleanliness standards
- Recent approval of an Urban Green Policy, which scores cities on green infrastructure and environmental initiatives—setting the stage for sustaining clean and healthy urban spaces .
Lucknow’s recent pitch into the Front Runner category in SDG performance underscores the state’s broader development push—from clean energy access to urban sanitation—all backed by strong leadership, including efforts at municipal governance
What Lies Ahead
The recognition of Lucknow as one of India’s cleanest cities underlines the success of integrating policy and execution. Moving forward, emphasis is expected to be placed on:
- Enhancing enforcement of C&D waste regulation, as collection gaps remain despite the presence of recycling amenities in the city
- Scaling up citizen‑centric campaigns, smart dashboards, and community participation.
- Aligning with state-level urban greening targets via tree planting, green zoning, and expanding public environmental awareness .
Under CM Yogi Adityanath, and guided by IAS Officer Indrajeet Singh (IAS 2011 batch), Lucknow has transformed sanitation policy into perceptible public service and civic ethos. The rise to India’s top three cleanest cities is not merely a ranking—it’s proof of administrative will, urban innovation, and local pride converging for sustainable civic transformation.
