Swachh Bharat Mission to Be Launched in Asansol, Durgapur, Darjeeling and Kalimpong

MP, May 21, 2026, Kolkata : The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) will be launched immediately in Asansol, Durgapur, Darjeeling and Kalimpong, while Kolkata and Howrah will be included in the next phase, state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul said.

Paul said the state government was preparing to submit a Rs 200-crore project report to the Centre under the scheme.

The government aims to quickly roll out pilot projects under SBM, with special eco-friendly measures planned for industries and factories in the Asansol-Durgapur industrial belt.

School students will also be trained in maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings and toilets from an early age.

The minister attended a meeting at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, where Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reviewed the national progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 programme with representatives from all states.

Khattar is expected to visit West Bengal later this month to review the situation on the ground. During the visit, the state government is likely to seek greater financial assistance from the Centre.

Claiming that West Bengal had remained absent from such meetings over the last decade, Paul alleged that the previous government had avoided participating in the Centre’s clean city rankings and had used politics to deprive people of the benefits of central schemes.

She further alleged that the previous government utilised only 16 per cent of the funds allocated under SBM and failed to submit utilisation certificates.

Paul also said a committee had been formed to audit alleged discrepancies in municipal accounts and asserted that development projects would continue while action would be taken against corruption.

The minister also alleged that several central schemes had earlier been renamed in the state, citing PM Awas Yojana and Swachh Bharat Mission as examples.