Bhubaneswar and Puri Selected Under MoHUA’s PRAGATI 50 Initiative for Model Sanitation

Bhubaneswar and Puri Selected Under MoHUA’s PRAGATI 50 Initiative for Model Sanitation

Bhubaneswar and Puri have been selected among 50 cities across India under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)’s PRAGATI 50 Initiative. The initiative, launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0), aims to promote advanced sanitation practices and scientific waste management.

The national initiative was launched virtually under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar. During the launch, the Union Minister interacted with Odisha’s Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra and Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee.

Focus on Waste-to-Value and Model Sanitation

During the interaction, Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra highlighted Odisha’s initiatives in waste-to-value solutions.

Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants are being established in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri with support from Oil India’s CSR initiatives. Waste-to-charcoal projects are also being implemented in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Under PRAGATI 50, Bhubaneswar and Puri will be developed as Model Sanitation Cities through structured handholding, regular monitoring and faster implementation of solid and used water management measures. The two cities will serve as benchmarks for other urban local bodies across 24 states and Union Territories.

Odisha’s Commitment to Sustainable Urban Development

The Housing and Urban Development Department, along with the Bhubaneswar and Puri municipal corporations, will implement targeted interventions based on defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The initiative is aimed at strengthening sanitation, waste management and sustainable urban development in Bhubaneswar and Puri.