Sambalpur –24th July 2025: The Swachh Survekshan Report, conducted by the Central Government, was released today, revealing a mixed performance for Sambalpur city. While the city has achieved an impressive 98% success in door-to-door garbage collection, it still lags behind in waste segregation (48%) and waste processing (59Percent).
In 2023, Sambalpur was granted the GFC-1 Star Rating for the first time. The city participated in the survey under the category of cities with a population between 1 lakh and 3 lakh. Among the 115 cities in Odisha, Sambalpur ranked 12th, and at the national level, it secured the 114th position.
Although the city has significantly improved its ranking compared to the previous two years, experts believe that with better management of waste segregation and processing, Sambalpur could have placed in the top 100 cities across the country. Currently, sanitation issues persist in several parts of the city, and there is a need to raise public awareness and focus more on segregation practices, according to intellectuals and urban observers.
Among the five municipal corporations in the state, Sambalpur has been ranked fourth. The city scored 8,959 points in the overall survey.
According to the Swachh Survekshan guidelines, cities can earn 1-star, 3-star, or up to 5-star ratings as garbage-free cities (GFC). Sambalpur has earned the GFC 1-star rating and also achieved the ODF++ (Open Defecation Free Plus Plus) certification.
Data from the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) shows that in 2022, the city received 483 ranking points, and in 2023, it received 223 points. This year, the ranking has improved. Despite the 98% collection rate, only 48% of waste is segregated and 59% is processed.
On average, Sambalpur generates 194 tonnes of garbage daily, of which 98% is collected. However, only 48% is segregated and 59% processed.
According to the municipal authorities, the city comprises 41 wards, and to ensure proper waste collection, 213 vehicles are needed. Currently, only 120 vehicles are deployed for door-to-door collection. Around 1,200 sanitation workers and other staff are involved in this task.
To promote waste segregation and processing, the corporation is operating 11 Wealth Centres across the region. The total monthly expenditure for waste management exceeds ₹2 crore.
The findings of the Swachh Survekshan report have been brought to the attention of SMC Commissioner Vedabhushan. He acknowledged the city’s improved rankings compared to previous years, crediting it to public participation. Plans are underway to further enhance public awareness campaigns.
A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a biogas plant is being prepared to boost processing capacity, and a centralized waste processing plant is also in the pipeline. The Commissioner stated that all necessary steps are being taken to achieve a 5-star GFC rating and top 50 national ranking in the 2025–26 survey.
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