President Droupadi Murmu presents national awards to Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Principal Secretary Sonmani Bora and Mayors
Bilha secures first position nationally among cities with a population of less than 20,000
Chhattisgarh's achievements in sanitation and improved urban management receive national recognition
Raipur, November 2026: Chhattisgarh has achieved significant national recognition for its efforts to improve sanitation and urban management, with three of its urban local bodies receiving national awards under the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The three award-winning urban local bodies are the Raipur Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur Municipal Corporation and Bilha Nagar Panchayat. Notably, Bilha in Bilaspur district secured first place nationally in the category of cities with a population of less than 20,000. Bilaspur also secured second place nationally in the 'Swachh Riverfront Town' category, while the Raipur Municipal Corporation received the first prize in the state for sanitation.
The national awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 award ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration and Development Minister Arun Sao, Principal Secretary of the department Sonmani Bora, and the mayors and commissioners of the respective urban local bodies received the awards from the President.
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu were also present at the ceremony.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the people of the state, elected representatives, officials and sanitation workers of the award-winning urban local bodies.
He said the national recognition received by Chhattisgarh in the Swachh Survekshan reflected the changing landscape of its cities and the collective commitment of people towards cleanliness.
The Chief Minister said it was a matter of pride for the entire state that a small town like Bilha had secured the top position nationally, Bilaspur had achieved second place in the riverfront town category, and Raipur had emerged as the leading city in the state.
He emphasised that the government's objective was not merely to improve sanitation rankings but to develop sustainable systems in which cleanliness becomes a habit among citizens and an integral part of every city's identity.
Sai said the government remained committed to building a clean, healthy and developed Chhattisgarh through public participation, modern urban facilities and effective management.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao also expressed happiness over the achievement, describing the national recognition of three urban local bodies as an important milestone for the state.
He said the awards were the outcome of collective efforts by elected representatives, government officials, sanitation workers and citizens.
Highlighting Bilha's achievement, Sao said its first-place ranking among cities with populations below 20,000 demonstrated that even smaller urban local bodies with limited resources could achieve excellence through effective management, commitment to cleanliness and public participation.
The selection of three urban local bodies for national awards also reflects the state's ongoing efforts to strengthen sanitation systems and improve urban services. The Swachh Survekshan initiative encourages public awareness, citizen participation and improved functioning of urban local bodies.
Those present at the award ceremony from Chhattisgarh included Raipur Mayor Meenal Choubey, Bilaspur Mayor Pooja Vidhani, Bilha Nagar Panchayat Chairperson Vandana Jendre, State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) Mission Director and Chief Executive Officer Sumeet Agrawal, Raipur Municipal Commissioner Sambit Mishra and Bilaspur Municipal Commissioner Prakash Kumar Sarve, along with other officials.
