The city of Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh achieved a major national milestone by securing the second position in the cleanest riverfront town category under the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 rankings. President Droupadi Murmu presented this prestigious national award to Bilaspur during a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. While the civic recognition brought widespread praise for the local administration and municipal authorities, on-ground inspections along the Arpa River present a stark contrast to the claims of cleanliness associated with the accolade.
Discrepancy Between Awards and Ground Reality
Considered the lifeline of Bilaspur and deeply revered by residents, the Arpa River currently struggles against heavy pollution. Along the prominent ghats of the river, heaps of garbage, left-over religious offerings, faded flower garlands, and broken remains of immersed idols lie scattered across the banks. Rather than demonstrating pristine riverfront management, the physical state of the river reveals that untreated domestic wastewater and open urban drains continue to empty directly into the stream, putting the river's ecological survival at risk.
Environmental Activists and Citizens Raise Concerns
The degrading state of the riverbanks has prompted sharp reactions from social activists and local residents. Many community members pointed out that while official reports showcase high cleanliness metrics, routine maintenance along the river stretch remains largely absent. Representatives from civil society highlighted both administrative gaps and a lack of public awareness as primary factors behind the pollution. Citizens emphasized that while national recognitions bring pride to Bilaspur, genuine success requires keeping the river truly clean and unpolluted.
Decade of Social Initiatives and 35,000 Saplings Planted
Shyam Mohan Dubey, a member of the Arpa Arpan Mahabhiyan committee, detailed his organization's decade-long effort to restore the river's surroundings. The committee has successfully planted and nurtured over 35,000 saplings along the riverbanks and maintains ongoing conservation projects at Shaheed Vatika, located behind the Commissioner's Office. Although he expressed happiness over the national award, he voiced deep regret regarding the current state of the river channel.
Demand for Dedicated Immersion Ponds and Waste Recycling
Addressing the issue of ritual pollution, Shyam Mohan Dubey stated, "People dump worship materials into the river in the name of faith, which hurts religious sentiments and pollutes the river." He urged municipal authorities to construct well-managed immersion ponds along the banks to enable respectful idol immersions without polluting the water. This step would allow for the systematic collection, disposal, and recycling of post-immersion remnants while also addressing issues such as illegal sand mining and untreated sewage flow.
Administrative Accountability and Civic Responsibility
Jeevan Mahant, another active member of the Arpa Arpan Mahabhiyan, remarked that while receiving the second national position brings joy, the condition of the riverbanks requires urgent remediation. He noted that foul odors and uncollected waste make evening walks unpleasant along the waterfront, stating, "In the evening, filth and bad odor near the river make it difficult for people to walk." He asserted that long-term cleanliness cannot be achieved through government action alone without active public participation.
Calls for Sustained Maintenance of River Ghats
Local resident Vishal Dheewar extended his gratitude to the administration for bringing national recognition to Bilaspur, but noted that cleaning efforts fail to maintain consistency after major festivals. He remarked, "The government is doing good work, but special attention needs to be given to the cleaning and maintenance of the river." Similarly, Shilpa Sharma, a local devotee who arrived at the riverbank for prayers, expressed dismay at the unsanitary conditions. She mentioned, "Seeing the filth on the ghat made me pause, leaving me unsure of how to perform the rituals." Until comprehensive waste management plans are executed along the Arpa River, the contrast between national accolades and ground reality will remain a subject of local debate.
