On World Environment Day, a look at India's Cleanest

World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1973, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach.

India is a vast country with a wide range of environmental conditions. Some areas are very clean, while others are not.

As the Earth celebrates World Environment Day today (June 5), let us look at the India's cleanest cities, villages, rivers, airports and railway stations.

Cleanest city - Indore

Indore, Madhya Pradesh is the cleanest city in India. For the sixth time in a row, it has managed to bag the top spot.The city takes the 'wet' and 'dry' waste concept very seriously but what is different about their garbage segregation is that it follows six categories of segregation and not just two

• The wet or bio waste is used to produce manure and Indians again prove that we do the 3 Rs ((reduce, reuse and recycle)) the best way.
• The roads are cleaned every night with the recycled water that the IMC (Indore Municipal Corporation) established from the sewages.

This was possible with the equal contribution from the citizens as they made sure to follow the garbage segregation categories in their home itself and it reduced a lot of work. The local drivers, shopkeepers and other residents of the city can be seen contributing towards the cleanliness and hygiene of the city.

Cleanest Village - Mawlynnong

Mawlynnong, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya is known as the cleanest village in India. 

• The roads and locality are cleaned by the villagers themselves and any kind of smoking, drinking or littering is strictly prohibited. 
• People come out from their houses early in the morning before the vehicles come on the roads. From the eldest to the youngest, everyone is seen equally participating as it is part of the daily life.
• There are dustbins in every area which are plastic ones, but are naturally made from bamboo

Cleanest river - Umngot

Meghalaya also has the cleanest river in India. Popularly known as Dawki, the Umngot river is the cleanest in the country. Travellers from around the world visit this river as the colour, experience and the view is almost surreal.

• The river is near the Bangladesh border so a moderate temperature is experienced during sunny days. 
• The river's water colour is different during different seasons.
• There are shops that sell food and other essentials around the area since it is a tourist spot, but people take extra initiative to keep it clean. 
• This area is also attracted by the entertainment industry and music videos have been shot here as it captures the beauty of nature at its best.

Cleanest airport - IGI Delhi

The capital city of India has also made the country proud as the Airport Council International's report from 2022 says that the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the cleanest airport in India.

• The airport is connected with metros and transport is very easy even for the ones who travel for the first time.
• At every arrival and departure the cleaning staff make sure everything is neat and tidy.

Cleanest railway station - Surat

According to the Railway Inquiry India, Surat is the cleanest railway station in India. Also known as the Diamond City of India, it shines under the A1 category of the survey.