Rourkela Shines at National Level, Wins Top Honour in Clean Air Survey 2026
Rourkela, September 7, 2026: Rourkela has once again brought pride to Odisha by securing first position at the national level in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 (Clean Air Survey) in the category of cities with a population between 3 lakh and 10 lakh.
The achievement highlights Rourkela’s sustained efforts towards improving air quality, scientific waste management, pollution control and environmental sustainability.
The annual Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan, conducted under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), evaluates cities on their initiatives and performance in reducing air pollution and improving the quality of the urban environment.
As many as 130 cities across India participated in the survey this year. Rourkela emerged as the national winner in its population category.
Rourkela Secures Multiple Honours
Rourkela’s achievement was not limited to the city-level award. Ward No. 13 of Rourkela secured first position at the national level among wards with a population below 10,000.
Meanwhile, Ward No. 14 secured third position at the state level in the same category, adding another distinction to Rourkela’s environmental performance.
The awards were presented on September 7, observed as Swachh Vayu Diwas, at a special ceremony held at the Ganga Auditorium of Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi.
The honours were presented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
Sundargarh District Collector Dr. Shubhankar Mahapatra and Rourkela Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dina Dastagir received the awards on behalf of the district administration and the civic body.
Focus on Air Pollution and Waste Management
Rourkela Municipal Corporation has implemented several measures aimed at reducing air pollution and improving environmental conditions across the city.
These initiatives include scientific segregation and management of solid waste, biomining of legacy waste and the establishment of a biomass pellet plant to discourage the burning of waste.
The civic body has also taken steps to treat septic tank and drain water for reuse. Treated water is being used through sprinklers for dust suppression, while mechanical sweeping machines operate during night hours to reduce road dust.
Construction and demolition waste is also being managed through systematic collection and processing.
Air Purifiers Installed at Key Locations
To address particulate pollution, air purifiers have been installed at four busy locations in Rourkela. These facilities are intended to help reduce particulate matter, particularly PM2.5 and PM10, at locations experiencing higher levels of traffic and human activity.
The administration and civic authorities have also been conducting awareness programmes to encourage residents to participate in efforts to improve air quality.
National Recognition for Rourkela
The national recognition is being viewed as an important achievement for Rourkela and Sundargarh district. Officials have credited the collective efforts of civic authorities, sanitation workers and citizens for the city’s performance.
Rourkela’s first-place ranking in the Clean Air Survey 2026 demonstrates how sustained pollution-control measures, scientific waste management and public participation can contribute to creating a cleaner and healthier urban environment.
The achievement further strengthens Rourkela’s reputation as one of Odisha’s leading cities in environmental management and urban sustainability.
