Palampur’s clean sweep: Once garbage-ridden, now among state’s cleanest cities

In just two years, Palampur has transformed from a town struggling with waste management into one of the cleanest cities in Himachal Pradesh. This remarkable turnaround has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Palampur Municipal Corporation and NGO “Hildhari.”

Before the Municipal Corporation was established three years ago, garbage heaps were a common sight across the town. There was no proper system for garbage collection or disposal. Determined to change this, the MC launched a mission to make Palampur a green and clean town. A dedicated team of safai karamcharis was formed, and door-to-door garbage collection was rolled out in all 15 wards in a phased manner.

One of the initial challenges was the lack of a waste treatment facility. The garbage treatment plant, previously managed by a local panchayat and later taken over by the MC, was non-functional. Garbage was simply dumped on the banks of Neugal River.

Commissioner Ashish Sharma told The Tribune that the MC—with strong support from local MLA Ashish Butail and the Urban Development Department in Shimla—procured modern waste-handling machinery worth crores and quickly made it operational.

“Today, you won’t find a single garbage dump in Palampur,” Sharma said. “Garbage is collected daily from all 15 wards with the help of 100 sanitation workers, half a dozen supervisors, and a dozen vehicles. Regular workshops have been held to educate residents on waste segregation. Our team ensures waste is dumped only at designated sites, and both the Mayor’s and my own mobile numbers are open to the public for feedback.”

Mayor Gopal Naag echoed this sentiment, noting that garbage disposal was one of the biggest challenges when the MC was formed. “Through effective planning, waste is now minimised at the source and properly segregated into wet and dry. Palampur has rightfully earned its place among the cleanest cities in Himachal,” he added.

Residents, too, have lauded the efforts. “The MC’s focus on people-centred waste management is commendable,” said a local. “Sanitation workers have built a rapport with the community and encouraged us to take segregation seriously—improving not just our homes, but the town as a whole.”

Himachal Tribune