Waste problem: Garbage in Chandigarh Secretariat area

The area, which is used for parking by visitors, gave an unclean and shabby look.

chandigarh, chandigarh secretariat, chandigarh pollution, pollution in chandigarh, chandigarh news

Garbage near CHB office in Sector 9. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar singh)

While new UT Adviser Parimal Rai spoke about his focus on Swacch Abhiyan in Chandigarh, garbage was found strewn in the vicinity of the UT Secretariat at Sector 9 on Friday.

The area, which is used for parking by visitors, gave an unclean and shabby look. It was prominently visible on the road that is taken by officers of the UT Administration on way to their offices.

Soon after Rai joined on March 14, in an interaction with the media, he told how Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swacch Abhiyan campaign was his focus among other key issues.

The visitors said after rain, the garbage would raise a stink. “I have been coming here for the past three days and the area stinks. At least the officials should get the area cleaned where their office is situated. People come here and park their cars,” said Narender Singh, a visitor.

Vibha, another visitor to the area, said: “This area has become an eyesore since it gives such a messy look. This stretch gets filled with water and causes inconvenience. When it is being used as a parking lot, why isn’t it being maintained properly. Doesn’t it catch the attention of the authorities.”

She added: “People from other places also come here either to the Chandigarh police headquarters or to the UT

Secretariat or Chandigarh Housing Board office to get their complaints addressed. What impression of the city do they carry.”

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This was the look of the city that was ranked second cleanest in the country in a recent survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Urban Development.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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