Patiala: Strengthening efforts to make Patiala cleaner, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has successfully completed two phases of Mission Clean Patiala, a sustained cleanliness and beautification campaign launched in April 2026 under the leadership and guidance of PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta.
On the occasion, Gupta, along with Pooja Syal Grewal, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Patiala, inaugurated a dashboard to track regular activities and launched the ‘Plastic-Free Lunch’ campaign to reduce the use of plastic.
Mission Clean Patiala Records 13.79 Tonnes of Waste Removal
Mission Clean Patiala, a project under Mission Clean Air Patiala, has recorded participation from more than 50 institutions, including primary, participating and supporting institutions. So far, 72 activities have been undertaken, covering cleanliness, awareness and plantation initiatives.
The dashboard records 13,790 kg (13.79 tonnes) of waste lifted, 800 saplings planted and 1,814 volunteers participating in the campaign. The volunteers include students, teachers, NGOs, officers and residents.
The campaign has brought educational institutions, government organisations, NGOs and citizens together to encourage greater ownership of public spaces. Participating institutions have also contributed to public awareness through social media posts, further spreading the message of cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta said:
“Mission Clean Patiala is focused first and foremost on making our city cleaner by creating a culture of responsibility towards our roads and public spaces. The encouraging inter-generational participation of GenZ, Millenials and even GenX from schools, colleges, government organisations, NGOs and citizens demonstrates that cleanliness becomes more effective and sustainable when the community takes ownership. Our effort is to ensure that these activities continue beyond individual drives and become a regular part of civic and environmental responsibility.”
‘Plastic-Free Lunch’ Campaign Launched
As the next stage of the campaign, PPCB has launched the ‘Plastic-Free Lunch’ initiative for schools and colleges. The initiative encourages institutions to adopt practices that reduce the use of plastic in lunch boxes and other lunch-related materials.
Institutions that successfully implement the concept will be recognised as part of the campaign.
PPCB will also continue road-cleanliness drives through participating institutions, with their performance reviewed quarterly. The best-performing institution annually will be recommended for the State Shaheed Bhagat Singh Award, encouraging institutions to sustain environmental initiatives and contribute to a cleaner city.
Cleanliness Linked to Air Quality
Through these interventions, Mission Clean Patiala seeks to establish a sustained connection between clean roads, responsible waste management, greener public spaces and improved air quality.
Gupta further emphasised that preventing littering and ensuring proper waste handling are also important from an air-quality perspective, as accumulated waste can ultimately lead to open burning and the release of harmful pollutants.
She highlighted the need to complement cleanliness efforts with greater awareness, reduced vehicular pollution and increased greenery so that collective action contributes to a cleaner and healthier Patiala.
PPCB expressed its appreciation to all participating institutions, government organisations, NGOs, educational institutions, students, volunteers and citizens for their contribution to Mission Clean Patiala.
The Board will continue to strengthen the campaign under the leadership of its Chairperson, with the core objective of keeping Patiala clean and building sustained community participation in cleanliness and environmental protection.