Good news for Goa! Panaji clinches THIS big award, Sawant government says…

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu presented the ‘Swachh Sheher’ award to Panaji at a function organised by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs in New Delhi. Panaji stood first among small cities in the country with a population of 20,000 to 50,000. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu to Goa’s Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane, along with CCP Mayor Rohit
Monserrate and Commissioner Clen Madeira, who accepted it on behalf of the city.

Sanquelim featured in the list of small towns that show promise in being clean, bagging the ninth position at the all-India level and second among all municipalities in Goa. Both the awards were received by urban development minister Vishwajit Rane.

Here is the full list: Swachh Shehar in 5 Population Categories

More than 10 Lakh Population

  • AHMEDABAD (Gujarat)

  • BHOPAL (MP)
  • LUCKNOW (UP)

3-10 Lakh Population

  • MIRA-BHAYANDAR (Maharashtra)
  • BILASPUR (Chhattisgarh)
  • JAMSHEDPUR (Jharkhand)

50,000-3 Lakh Population

  • DEWAS (Madhya Pradesh)
  • KARHAD (Maharashtra)
  • KARNAL (Haryana)

20,000- 50,000 Population

  • PANAJI (Goa)
  • ASKA (Odisha)
  • KUMHARI (Chhattisgarh)

Series of Reforms:

It is important to note that Panaji has undergone a series of structured reforms in waste management, public sanitation, and civic infrastructure, over the past two years.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rane termed the award a “moment of immense pride” for Goa, attributing the success to sustained groundwork like door-to-door waste collection, Garbage-Free City certification, and scientific waste processing.

Significantly, under Rane’s leadership, Panaji has been focusing on long-term cleanliness standards rather than ad-hoc clean-up drives. Officials point to systematic waste segregation enforcement and the push for decentralised waste treatment as key contributors.

Rane issues Statement:

“This is not just a trophy. It is proof that consistent governance and citizen participation can make a difference,” Rane said in a statement, thanking Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for his support and Mayor
Monserrate for ensuring on-ground implementation.

Observers note that Panaji’s achievement also reflects a shift in urban governance priorities in Goa, moving beyond tourism-centric narratives towards everyday quality of life issues.

With this recognition, the focus now turns to sustaining these benchmarks. As Rane put it, “We move forward with renewed determination to build a sustainable and Swachh Goa, aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

Indore: Cleanest city in India

Nationally, Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai entered the premier Super Swachh League, with Indore
continuing its reign as the cleanest city in the country. The new generation of clean cities were Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow, which emerged as the top ‘Swachh Shehar’ or clean cities.

News