Alappuzha Ranked Cleanest Medium City in Kerala, Climbs to Top 100 in India

Alappuzha: Alappuzha Municipality has been recognised in the Swachh Survekshan 2024, India’s national cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. In the category for medium-sized cities, with populations between 50,000 and 3 lakh, Alappuzha secured the top rank in Kerala and was placed 80th at the national level.

This is massive improvement from the previous year, when the municipality ranked 2605th in the country. In terms of performance score, the municipality received 9428 points this year, compared to 2944 last year.

Alappuzha also received a three-star rating under the Garbage-Free City certification, becoming one of only three municipalities in Kerala to achieve this status. This is the first time any municipality in the state has earned a three-star rating since the system was introduced. Additionally, Alappuzha was certified as an Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+) city.

The award was accepted by municipal chairperson K. K. Jayamma from Minister M. B. Rajesh at a ceremony held at Tagore Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. Several officials and workers involved in the municipality’s health and sanitation efforts were present, including Health Standing Committee chairperson A. S. Kavitha, municipal secretary Shibu L Nalppattu, health officer K. P. Varghese, and officials from the Malinyamuktham Nava Keralam mission and Haritha Karma Sena.

This is the first time since the Swachh Survekshan began in 2016 that Alappuzha has placed within the top 100 municipalities in India. More than 4,000 urban local bodies across the country considered in this year’s survey.