Punjab Newsline | Amritsar
Taking the Punjab Government’s ‘Mission Clean Punjab’ to the streets, Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains carried out a surprise inspection of Amritsar’s newly launched night sanitation drive at 1 AM on Tuesday, reaffirming the state’s commitment to maintaining cleanliness in the holy city.
Walking through the narrow lanes of the Walled City near Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), the minister reviewed the special night sweeping operation, which now runs daily from 10 PM to 2 AM to ensure clean roads for devotees arriving for Amrit Vela prayers.
Calling Amritsar “a centre of spirituality,” Bains said the initiative marks the first time the city’s sanitation efforts have extended beyond daylight hours. He stressed that the campaign is a long-term mission and warned that he would continue conducting surprise inspections on random nights to ensure the city remains spotless.
During his visit, the minister inspected secondary garbage collection points, monitored door-to-door waste collection in congested lanes, and reviewed the removal of open dumping sites. He also interacted with sanitation workers on night duty to understand the challenges they face while keeping the city clean.
Bains said the government aims to restore the beauty of the Heritage Street and ensure daily cleaning across key stretches of the Walled City. He added that eliminating garbage dumping points would also help reduce the presence of stray animals on city roads.
Expressing concern over littering, the minister urged residents to cooperate with sanitation workers by refraining from throwing waste from balconies and rooftops. “I don’t want to see a single wrapper, envelope, or plastic bottle lying on the roads of this holy city,” he said, adding that the efforts of sanitation workers often go to waste because of irresponsible disposal of garbage.
Describing cleanliness as a form of ‘sewa’ for a city associated with Guru Sahib, Bains appealed to citizens to actively participate in the campaign. Earlier in the day, he had also conducted door-to-door inspections with the local MLA, Mayor, Municipal Commissioner and senior officials, directing civic authorities to resolve public grievances on the spot.
The minister said Mission Clean Punjab is being implemented “from the streets, not from offices,” and urged people to support the initiative by sharing awareness videos and adopting responsible waste disposal practices.
