Chandigarh/Patiala, September 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has completed two phases of Mission Clean Patiala, recording the removal of 13.79 tonnes of waste and participation from more than 50 institutions as part of its sustained cleanliness and beautification drive.
Launched in April 2026 under the leadership and guidance of PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta, the campaign has so far seen 72 cleanliness, awareness and plantation activities.
Gupta, along with Pooja Syal Grewal, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Patiala, inaugurated a dashboard to track the campaign’s activities and launched the ‘Plastic-Free Lunch’ initiative aimed at reducing the use of plastic in schools and colleges.
According to the PPCB, the campaign has recorded the lifting of 13,790 kg of waste, plantation of 800 saplings and participation of 1,814 volunteers, including students, teachers, NGOs, government officials and residents.
The participating institutions include educational institutions, government organisations and NGOs, with citizens also joining the initiative. Institutions have further supported the campaign by sharing cleanliness and environmental awareness messages on social media.
“Mission Clean Patiala is focused first and foremost on making our city cleaner by creating a culture of responsibility towards our roads and public spaces,” Gupta said.
She highlighted the participation of people across generations, including Gen Z, millennials and Gen X, saying community ownership was essential to making cleanliness efforts sustainable.
“Our effort is to ensure that these activities continue beyond individual drives and become a regular part of civic and environmental responsibility,” she said.
Under the newly launched ‘Plastic-Free Lunch’ campaign, schools and colleges are being encouraged to adopt practices that reduce the use of plastic in lunch boxes and other lunch-related materials. Institutions that successfully implement the initiative will be recognised as part of the campaign.
The PPCB will also continue road-cleanliness drives through participating institutions, with their performance to be reviewed quarterly. The best-performing institution each year will be recommended for the State Shaheed Bhagat Singh Award to encourage sustained environmental initiatives.
Gupta also stressed the link between waste management and air quality, noting that accumulated waste can contribute to open burning and the release of harmful pollutants.
She called for cleanliness initiatives to be complemented by greater awareness, reduced vehicular pollution and increased greenery to support a cleaner and healthier Patiala.
The PPCB thanked participating institutions, government organisations, NGOs, educational institutions, students, volunteers and residents for their contribution and said it would continue strengthening Mission Clean Patiala with a focus on sustained community participation in cleanliness and environmental protection.
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