Chandigarh, August 16:- Chandigarh Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi today extended warm greetings to citizens on the 80th Independence Day and called upon residents to collectively contribute towards building a clean, green, safe and developed Chandigarh in line with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat–2047’.
Addressing the gathering after unfurling National Flag at MC office premises on Independence Day, the Mayor paid tribute to the freedom fighters whose sacrifices and struggles made India’s freedom possible. He said that independence is not merely a right but also a responsibility, and the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh is committed to ensuring development that improves the quality of life of every citizen.
Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS; Special Commissioner Sh. Harpreet Singh Sudan, IAS; Senior Deputy Mayor Sh. Jasmanpreet Singh; councillors; senior officers of MCC; prominent citizens; office bearers of Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, Office bearers of RWAs and MWAs, representatives of NGOs and students were also present on the occasion.
Highlighting the city’s environmental initiatives, the Mayor said that under the Green Chandigarh Action Plan, more than 1.50 lakh saplings have been planted this year. During Van Mahotsav, nearly 7,000 plants were planted at Dadumajra Dumping Ground, including bamboo, ornamental and native species. The site, once known for mountains of waste, is steadily emerging as a symbol of environmental restoration and green transformation.
He said special focus has also been laid on developing green belts and parks to expand the city’s green cover and provide a healthier environment for future generations.
In the infrastructure sector, the Mayor highlighted that 142.72 km of roads have been re-carpeted, while construction and re-carpeting works covering 54.11 km have been undertaken at a cost of around ₹10.40 crore. Several other projects, including renovation of the Manimajra Sub-Office, construction and repair of night shelters, upgradation of markets in Sectors 27, 28, 29, 30, 20, 31, 32 and 33, development of Behlana cremation ground and cement-concrete flooring at Manimajra Motor Market, have also been completed.
He said the civic infrastructure and electrical systems have also been strengthened at various locations including Sectors 30, 32, 41, 42, 46, 49 and 63, Manimajra, Mauli Jagran, Vikas Nagar, Bapu Dham, Modern Housing Complex, Shivalik Enclave and Ram Darbar.
On sanitation and public health, the Mayor said the Municipal Corporation has introduced several citizen-centric initiatives, including the Swachh Star School Ranking Initiative, aimed at inculcating cleanliness habits among children. An MoU with commercial door-to-door waste collectors has further strengthened waste management in markets.
Under the ‘Har Ghar Swachhata, Har Dwar Swachhata’ campaign, citizens have been encouraged to practise source segregation and reduce dependence on single-use plastic. The Swachh Rose Festival was organised on a completely zero-waste model.
The number of RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Centres has been increased from one to three, providing citizens with better facilities for reuse and recycling of household materials.
Recalling the initiatives undertaken on World Environment Day, the Mayor said special activities were conducted at 31 locations for source segregation demonstrations, along with 58 ward-level cleanliness drives, plantation of 574 saplings, plastic waste collection drives and awareness programmes involving more than 50 RWAs, NGOs, Self-Help Groups and youth organisations.
Awards
The Mayor and Commissioner awarded commendation and appreciation certificates to following employees and citizens during the independence day celebration at MCC office on 15th August, 2025:-
Sh. Ankit (Steno Typist), Ms. Himani Sharma (DEO, O.S.), Sh. Rohit Kaushal (DEO, O.S.), Sh. Narinder Kumar (Peon), Ms. Gaganjeet Kaur (DEO, O.S.), Sh. Harjinder Singh (Clerk), Sh. Rashpal (Peon), Sh. Govind Singh (Leading Fireman), Sh. Sunil Kumar (Driver), Sh. Raj Kamal (Fireman), Sh. Mohit Sharma (Clerk), Ms. Alisha Kundal (Clerk, O.S.), Sh. Parminder (J.E., O.S.), Sh. Rajan Nadda (Steno, O.S.), Sh. Paramjeet Singh (Sewerman), Sh. Rugal Dass (Driver), Sh. Gurmeet Singh (Jr. Draftsman) Sh. Chaitanya (Draftsman), Sh. Harkrishan (MTS), Sh. Manivel (Beldar), Sh. Gurkirat Singh (Draftsman, O.S.), Sh. Lakhwinder Singh (Head Mali, O.S.), Sh. Gurman Singh (Driver, O.S.), Sh. Salig Ram (Head Mali, O.S.), Sh. Sanjay Kumar (Mali, O.S.), Sh. Sachin Mor (Clerk), Ms. Narinder Kaur (Jr. Assistant), Sh. Sunil Kumar (DEO, O.S.), Sh. Manjay Muttu (Sweeper, Daily Wage), Sh. Vir Singh and Sh. Sukhwinder Singh (Security Guard).
Sh. Madan Lal Gulati (Businessman & Social Activist), Sh. Ravinder Nath (Secretary Chandigarh Traders Association), Sh. Dipak Giri (Media Secretary), Sh. Daljit Singh Thukral (Vice President, National Human Rights and Anticorruption Force), Sh. Rajat Malhotra (General Secretary, National Human Rights and Anticorruption Force), Ms. Harnoor Mahajan (Sportsperson, Roller Skating), Mr. Ranjeet Gupta (Yoga Instructor), Prof. Babita Ghai (PGI), Dr. Shikha Bahri (Assistant Professor Education & Nodal Officer VADA club), Ms. Samridhi (Sports Person), Ms. Vijayanti (Social Activist), Sh. Baljinder Singh (Vice President, CBM), Sh. Jagtar Singh (Advisor, CBM), Sh. Charanjit Singh Sethi (Executive Member of CBM), Vimal Trikha (Senior Citizen Singer and Artist Association), Sh. Om Parkash Mehra (Social Activist), Ms. Rani Walia (Social Activist), Sh. Ujjawal Aggarwal (Social Activist), Sh. Ajay Kumar (Social Worker), Sh. Ashok Chaudhary (Vice President, Ramleela and Dussehra Committee, Sector 20), Dr. J.S. Thakur (President World NCD, Federation), Dr. Vishnu Jinja (President Association of Resident Doctors), Dr. Swapnesh Kumar Sahu (Assistant Professor, PGI), Sh. Manpreet Singh (Jr. Engineer, PGI), Dr. Neelam Dahiya (Additional Professor, Cardiology, PGI), Dr. Sujata (Additional Professor Obs & Gyane, PGI), Dr. Rajni Sharma (Psychologist Play Therapy, PGI), Dr. Akhilesh Sharma (Assistant Professor, PGI), Dr. Sandeep Patel (Associate Professor Ortho, PGI), Dr. Rama Walia (Additional Professor, PGI), Dr. Lovepreet Singh (Senior Resident Dept. of Urology, PGI), Dr. Sukhpal Kaur (Principal of National Institute of Nursing Education PGI), Dr. Krishan Kumar (Addl. Professor, PGI), Sh. Himanshu Kashyap (Sports Person), Sh. Harsh Kashyap (Sports Person), Sh. Kirpal Singh (President KTCJ), Sh. Gian Chand Saklani (Social Activist), Sh. Sushil Kumar (Social Activist), Sh. Daulat Sharma (Social Welfare/NGO), Mr. Aditiya Rampal (Senior Men Captain), Ms. Gunika Kaur (Senior Women Captain), Mr. Gurtej Singh Bhatti (Junior Boys Captain), Dr. Mandeep Kaur (Sports Person), Sh. Rakesh Uppal (President UMANG NGO), Ms. Paramjeet (Sports Person), Sh. Sanyam Sharma (Social Worker), Sh. Sunil Pandey (Journalist), Sh. Ashok Kumar (Social Worker), Sh. Rajinder Pandey (Social Activist), Sh. Manpreet Singh (Social Activist), Sh. Kanwarjeet Singh Hanjra (Social Activist), Sh. Kamal Kishore (Social Activist), Sh. Sanjeev Bansal (Social Activist), Dr. S.P. Jauhar (Social Activist), Prof. K.C. Jain (Social Activist), Sh. Prithvi Sharma (Social Activist), Advocate Sh. Ravi Sharma (Social Activist), Er. Sh. S.K. Gupta (Social Activist), Sh. Jagjeet Singh (Social Activist), Sh. Kanwal Kakkar (Social Activist), Prof. Harbhajan Singh Jagdev (Social Activist), Sh. Ravi Mahajan (Social Activist), Sh. Vivek Sharma (Social Activist), Sh. Sunil Kumar Arora (Student Member of SAMAVESH Committee), Sh. Amardeep Sehgal (Senior Vice President), Sh. Devender Prakash (Social Activist), Sh. Jagjit Singh (Social Activist), Sh. Vinod Kumar (Social Activist), Ms. Aakriti (Student), Sh. Varinder Kumar Narad (Social Activist), Sh. Sandeep Kumar (President Old Book Association), Sh. Naveen Kumar Goyal (Social Activist), Sh. Parampal Singh Shahid (Religious Association Veteran Member Gurudwara Sahib), Sh. Kamal Preet Singh (Social Activist), Smt. Karamjit Kaur Bhullar (Teacher), Sh. Sandeep Garg (Social Activist), Sh. Sharan Kumar (Social Activist), Sh. S. Ravinderjit Singh Kohli (Social Activist), Sh. Rajinder Singh (Founder Social Project Udaan), Sh. Sujal (Member Shaym Gau Sewa Samiti), Ms. Sandeep Kaur (Social Activist), Sh. Ganesh Dutt (Social Activist), Prof. R.P. Gupta (Social Activist), Ms. Manisha (Social Activist), Dr. Meena Chadha (Social Activist), Sh. Rohit Kumar (Director Global Youth Federation, India), Smt. Anita Sharma (Sr. Assistant, PU), Sh. Tanish Aggarwal (Student), Ms. Kamal Brar (President Ladies Wing), Sh. Suresh Kumar (Social Activist), Sh. Charnajit Singh (Social Activist), Sh. Ravinder Pal Singh (Social Activist), Sh. Raman Kumar (Yoga Instructor), Sh. Sanjeev Chadha (President Chandigarh Beopar Mandal), Sh. Subhash Narang (Sr. Vice President CBM), Sh. Harjit Singh (Secretary CBM), Sh. Kawal Kishore Suri (Secretary CBM), Sh. Mandeep Singh (Founder of Yoga Studio), Sh. Ravinder Saini (Lecturer GMSS, Sector 10), Sh. Bharat Yadav (President Partigya Foundation), Sh. R.K. Gupta (Social Activist), Sh. Ramesh Singla (Social Activist), Sh. Bikash Medi (Social Activist), Sh. Mohinder Singh (Social Activist), Sh. Ashok Tewari (Social Activist), Sh. Varinder Kumar Jain (Social Activist), Sh. Gupreet Mohra (Social Activist), Sh. Jasdev Singh (Social Activist), Sh. Pankaj Gupta (Social Activist), Sh. Vinay Sachdeva (Social Activist), Sh. Rajinder Singh (Social Activist), Sh. Rajinder Kaushal (Social Activist), Sh. Prag Raj Sharma (Social Activist) and Sh. Harish Kakkar (Sec. Gen. Chandigarh Table Tennis Association) of Chandigarh for their contribution to the society.