Shillong, Oct 7: The Department of Urban Affairs, in collaboration with the Shillong Municipal Board, successfully concluded the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2025 campaign with a state-level closing ceremony held today.
The nationwide campaign, themed “Swachhotsav – Festival of Cleanliness,” was launched on September 17 and culminated on October 2, marking Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla, Chief Secretary Dr. P. Shakil Ahammed, Urban Affairs Secretary W.A.M. Booth, Shillong Municipal Board CEO P.K. Boro, and traditional heads attended the function.
In his address, Shylla lauded sanitation workers, calling them true heroes of the cleanliness movement. He stressed recognising the tireless efforts of those ensuring a cleaner environment. Shylla urged citizens to keep participating actively in maintaining clean urban spaces, highlighting the need for collective efforts to boost the state’s aesthetics.
“We have a roadmap, and our state is one of the first in the country to have a Solid Waste Management Policy and Strategy, notified in 2019 — the only policy with a vision striving towards Zero Waste. All towns and cities in the state also have their own City Solid Waste Action Plans and City Sanitation Action Plans, apprised and approved by the Swachh Bharat Commission. These plans outline activities for each town and city within specified timelines,” he stated.
He emphasised the state’s concern over maintaining cleanliness amid rising tourist influx and the upcoming National Games in 2027. “But I assure this gathering that we are not idle. Several initiatives are already underway. The Chief Minister launched Mission Clean Shillong 2027 on World Environment Day 2025, envisioning a litter-free, pristine city with clean water and pure air by 2027. The Mission Document will soon be available publicly,” Shylla said.
He also highlighted the installation fences along 6.3 kilometers of vulnerable stretches of Umkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers to curb dumping, the Mission Zero Litter, a short-term intensive cleaning drive for Shillong under _”My City, My Responsibility”_ campaign, engaging local communities.
Shylla also reminded that Meghalaya was slapped with Rs 100 crore by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for improper waste management. Yet, proudly, in five years despite COVID-19 hurdles, the state made huge strides.
He said waste collection efficiency rose from 50 per cent in 2019 to 83 per cent in 2025, segregation at source improved from under 30 per cent to 70 per cent, waste processing capacity jumped from less than 2 per cent in 2019 to 68 per cent in 2025, with plants handling 215 tons per day, converting biodegradable waste to compost.
“We’re fully committed to environmental conservation through scientific waste management, aligning with our state policy — intensifying efforts to identify sites for modern waste facilities,” Shylla affirmed.
