State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 18 Jul 2025

Indore Tops Swachh Rankings 2024-25 Again

Why in News? 

Madhya Pradesh has excelled in the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, with Indore being declared the cleanest city in India for the eighth consecutive year.  

Key Points 

• Top Performers from Madhya Pradesh: 
  • Indore: It has been upgraded to the ‘Super Swachh League Cities’ category for outstanding performance. 
    • Ranked top among cities in this new elite category, which will be ranked separately from next year. 
  • Bhopal: Ranked 2nd cleanest city among million-plus population cities. 
    • Improved from previous years and now only trails Ahmedabad in this category. 
  • Jabalpur: Achieved 5th position nationally, its first time in the top five. 
    • Received a seven-star rating and was recognized as a water surplus city. 
  • Ujjain: It is recognized in medium-sized cities and entered the Super Swachh League Cities category in the 3–10 lakh population group. 
  • Katni: Ranked 8th in the country in the overall Swachh Survekshan 2024–25. 
  • Statewide Coverage in Urban Cleanliness: 
    • Assessment covered 383 Urban Local Bodies, an increase from 378 previously. 
  • Awards and Recognition: 
    • Madhya Pradesh won eight national awards in 2025, up from six in 2023–24. 
    • Cities like Shahganj, Nagri, and Nayagaon also earned high rankings, indicating state-wide impact. 
• Super Swachh League Cities: 
  • A new category introduced to rank top-tier performers separately. 

Swachh Survekshan Survey 

• Launched: It was launched in 2016 with 73 cities, the survey has grown exponentially, covering 4,589 cities in the 2024–25 edition. 
• Objective: Aims to promote citizen participation and generate awareness about cleanliness. 
  • Encourages cities to compete in improving urban sanitation, solid waste management, and public hygiene. 
• Conducting Authority: Implemented under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Bhopal Lakes' Water Unfit for Drinking

Why in News? 

The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) has reported that water in several lakes of Bhopal, famously known as the City of Lakes, is contaminated. 

Key Points 

• Water Quality Assessment by MPPCB: 
  • The MPPCB conducted a water quality analysis of major lakes in Bhopal over a four-month period from January to April. 
  • The lakes were categorized into different water quality classes ranging from A to C, based on pollution levels and potential usage. 
    • Class A: Fit for drinking without conventional treatment (only disinfection). 
    • Class B: Fit for outdoor bathing. 
    • Class C: Drinking water source only after conventional treatment and disinfection. 
• Status of Major Lakes in Bhopal: 
  • Upper Lake: It is a major source of drinking water for Bhopal, was found to be consistently in Class B category. 
    • The Class B rating indicates that water is suitable only for outdoor bathing, not direct consumption. 
  • Lower Lake: The Lower Lake was found to be more polluted than the Upper Lake and was consistently rated as Class C. 
    • Water requires full treatment and disinfection before it can be used for drinking 
  • Shahpura Lake: Shahpura Lake remained in Class C throughout the January to April assessment period. 
    • The consistent pollution levels make the lake water unfit for direct use and require full treatment before consumption. 
  • Hataikheda Dam: The water quality of Hataikheda Dam was also classified under Class C during all four months. 
    • The water here is not fit for drinking without proper treatment. 
    • It is constructed on the Kolar River. 
  • Kaliyasoat Dam: It is constructed on the Kaliasot River in Bhopal. It was rated in Class A for the months of March and April, and Class B for January and February. 
    • The water was clean enough for drinking with minimal treatment during part of the assessment period. 
  • Kerwa Dam: It showed similar trends, being rated as Class A in March and April and Class B in January and February. 
    • It was constructed on Kerwa river near Bhopal city. 
• Key Pollution Indicators: 
  • Presence of Total Coliform Bacteria: Found to be above designated limits in multiple lakes. It indicates contamination from human excreta. 
  • Sewage Inflow: Untreated sewage entering lakes is a major contributor to the contamination. 

Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) 

• It is responsible for preventing pollution and protecting the environment in the state. 
• It implements key environmental legislations including: 
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 
  • The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 
  • Selected provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 
  • The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 
  • The Madhya Pradesh Jaiv Anaashya Apashista (Niyantran) Act and Rules 
• The main objective of the Board is to maintain clean and usable air, water, and soil for various purposes. 
  • To achieve this, the Board operates 14 Regional Offices and 3 District Offices across the state.