Civic body forms ward-wise committees to provide better services to Karnal residents – The Tribune

A major push to boost development and sanitation efforts in Karnal has led the Municipal Corporation to establish ward-level committees across the city. Officials say the move, aligned with state guidance, is designed to create a direct channel between residents and city authorities to improve service delivery on the ground.

The newly formed bodies will serve as liaisons, coordinating community inputs with municipal plans to ensure faster, more responsive governance at the neighborhood level.

The inaugural gathering and training session for chairpersons, members, and secretaries of the 20 ward committees was held on Tuesday. The programme outlined priorities for the forthcoming Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 and explored ways to actively involve residents in cleanliness drives within their wards.

The event was led by the city’s mayor, with the municipal commissioner joining as guest of honor. Senior officials and city coordinators were also in attendance to brief participants on processes, expected outcomes, and practical steps for implementation.

“We have formed 20 ward committees for all 20 wards in the city,” the mayor stated, urging committee members to embrace a proactive stance to make Karnal cleaner and healthier. She stressed that, just as development works unfold in each ward, equal focus should be given to keeping the city clean.

She recalled the national cleanliness movement championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and noted that the vision has gradually taken shape at the municipal level. The mayor also highlighted the sustained efforts during the tenure of the former Haryana leadership, which helped Karnal gain national recognition for sanitation initiatives. Under the current administration’s guidance, progress in cleanliness and related services has continued, with Karnal securing a notable ranking in recent evaluations and aiming to reach the top slot in the next round.

The mayor urged ward committee members to inspire residents to maintain sanitation standards and to participate actively in civic cleanliness campaigns.

During the session, attendees were encouraged to download the Swachhta Setu mobile application, a tool that provides information about municipal services and allows residents to lodge sanitation-related complaints for timely action.

Commissioner Vaishali Sharma explained that the size of each ward panel is determined by local population. Wards with up to about 10,000 residents would be represented by four members, with an additional member added for each further 4,000 residents. She emphasized that broad community involvement is essential for achieving higher sanitation standards and neighborhood development. “These committees will help ensure public participation in both Swachh Survekshan and development works. Each committee will hold regular meetings, and their proposals will be considered in local development planning,” she noted.

Municipal officials confirmed that ward-wide committee meetings would be held on a regular schedule, providing a platform for members to raise concerns and for authorities to address those issues promptly.