In a major push for urban cleanliness, Uttar Pradesh has launched a ₹100 crore Clean UP Campaign to overhaul sanitation across cities. The initiative focuses on advanced waste management, public awareness, and infrastructure upgrades, with Lucknow leading as the third cleanest city in India. The campaign aims to set a benchmark for sustainable urban sanitation nationwide.
Uttar Pradesh Launches ₹100 Cr Clean UP Campaign to Transform Urban Sanitation
In a significant step toward achieving a cleaner and greener Uttar Pradesh, the state government has rolled out the Clean UP Campaign, backed by a ₹100 crore budget, to revolutionize urban sanitation. This ambitious initiative, announced in July 2025, aligns with the Swachh Bharat Mission and aims to address persistent challenges in waste management, public hygiene, and urban infrastructure across the state’s cities.
The campaign comes on the heels of Uttar Pradesh being crowned the cleanest state in India at the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024-25, with its capital, Lucknow, securing the third spot among cities with populations over 1 million. The awards, conferred by President Droupadi Murmu on July 17, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, recognized the state’s strides in sanitation, waste segregation, and public participation.
Under the Clean UP Campaign, the state government has outlined a multi-pronged strategy. Dedicated teams will be deployed in each ward, equipped with modern tools like earthmovers, tractors, and IoT-enabled waste collection systems. These teams will work under the supervision of ward councillors and engineers to ensure seamless execution. The campaign emphasizes 100% door-to-door waste collection, source segregation, and dumpsite remediation, drawing inspiration from top-performing cities like Indore and Surat.
Lucknow, a key focus of the campaign, has already set a precedent with its public-private partnership model. The city employs electric vehicle-based garbage collection, smart sanitation sensors, and a centralized control center for real-time waste tracking. These efforts have significantly reduced open dumping and improved public hygiene, earning praise from both residents and officials. However, challenges like irregular waste collection and malfunctioning streetlights persist, which the campaign aims to address.
The Clean UP Campaign also prioritizes citizen engagement. Public awareness drives, including street plays, social media campaigns, and celebrity endorsements, will encourage residents to adopt sustainable practices. A dedicated portal will allow citizens to register, upload photos of cleaned areas, and report sanitation issues, fostering a participative approach to cleanliness. This model mirrors the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which increased rural toilet coverage from 39% to over 95% between 2014 and 2019.
Other cities, such as Moradabad and Bijnor, are also set to benefit. Moradabad secured the 10th spot among cities with populations between 3–10 lakh, while Bijnor ranked 29th in the ‘Cleanest Ganga Towns’ category. The campaign will extend advanced waste management technologies to these cities, including rooftop composting and waste-to-fuel projects, to replicate the success of top-ranked cities like Indore.
The ₹100 crore allocation will fund infrastructure upgrades, such as mechanized sweeping systems, smart toilets with real-time occupancy tracking, and air purification benches. These innovations aim to make Uttar Pradesh a model for urban sanitation, attracting tourists to cultural hubs like Varanasi, Agra, and Prayagraj while ensuring cleaner living spaces for residents.
The campaign also draws lessons from the Swachh Bharat Mission’s success in eliminating open defecation. By leveraging high-level political support, modern communication strategies, and community-led initiatives, the Clean UP Campaign seeks to sustain and expand these gains. However, experts caution that addressing the “last mile” problem—reaching remote urban poor communities—will be critical to achieving comprehensive sanitation coverage.
As Uttar Pradesh leads the charge, the Clean UP Campaign is poised to inspire other states to prioritize urban sanitation. With a focus on sustainability, technology, and public participation, the initiative aims to redefine urban living and contribute to India’s vision of a garbage-free future.
Disclaimer: This article is based on reports and information from credible sources, including the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024-25, government announcements, and news publications. Data is accurate as of August 2025. Readers are advised to verify details through official channels for the latest updates.