National cleanliness initiative Pragati-50 includes Raipur and Bilaspur

National cleanliness initiative Pragati-50 includes Raipur and Bilaspur. The urban cleanliness and civic facilities work will accelerate, with the central government providing special technical assistance and guidance. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manoj Lal inaugurated the scheme, and Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao joined the inauguration virtually. Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao congratulated both municipal corporations, cleanliness volunteers and city residents. Raipur: The Government of India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has included Raipur and Bilaspur of Chhattisgarh in its ambitious Pragati-50 (PRAGATI-50) scheme. Minister Manoj Lal launched the scheme today via video conferencing. Inclusion of two cities out of the selected 50 gives the urban development and cleanliness efforts of Chhattisgarh new national recognition under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and guidance of Deputy CM and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao. The inauguration saw participation of urban development departments of selected states, representatives and officials of urban local bodies. Union State Minister Tokhan Sahu joined from New Delhi, and Deputy CM Arun Sao joined virtually from Rajnandgaon. Chief Minister Sai and Deputy CM Sao congratulated the Raipur and Bilaspur municipal corporations, their cleanliness volunteers and citizens for being part of Pragati-50. The mayors of Raipur (Ms. Meenal Chaube) and Bilaspur (Ms. Pooja Vidhani) and the commissioners also attended online. The initiative started on the directions given in the Pragati meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme, under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0, aims to strengthen cleanliness and civic amenities in the selected cities at fast pace, providing special technical support, continuous guidance, intensive monitoring and best practice adoption. Pragati-50 focuses on water treatment, reuse, proper management and effective waste disposal. Under Pragati-50, door-to-door waste collection, scientific segregation and processing, solid waste management will be made more effective and sustainable, improving public cleanliness facilities. The government will promote water treatment, reuse and proper management, increase citizen, institutional and elected representative participation, and regularly review and monitor city performance based on defined indicators. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and Deputy CM Arun Sao, the state government is prioritising cleanliness, expansion of civic amenities, effective waste management and better service delivery in urban bodies. Selection of Raipur and Bilaspur for Pragati-50 reflects these efforts, involving active municipal roles, volunteers and citizen cooperation. Pragati-50 will provide a model for other urban bodies in the state, allowing both cities to adopt best practices, improve waste management, water reuse and service quality, serving as a useful model for other urban bodies in Chhattisgarh. Deputy CM Arun Sao congratulated the municipal administration and officials and volunteers, saying the selection is a matter of pride for the whole state and that with central support both cities will become leading cities in cleanliness nationwide.