DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday launched 'Mission Clean Punjab', a technology-driven drive that will require civic officials to conduct mandatory field visits every morning. Unveiling the AAP government's ambitious project at the department's headquarters here, Bains reviewed the drive's first day through a video call with field officials. He said the initiative will be powered by an AI-integrated mobile application, surprise checks and weekly progress reports on cleanliness.

Under the initiative, Bains said, every urban local body will be split into 10-kilometre zones, each headed by a supervisory officer -- additional DCs, municipal corporation commissioners, joint commissioners, among other officials.

All officers will conduct mandatory field visits daily from 7 to 8 am, an official statement said.

The minister, according to the statement, said he will also carry out surprise checks across Punjab. Supervisory officers will send daily reports; nothing will be left to chance, he said.

"This is not a one-time big-size event. This is a daily war on dirt. Starting today, 7 am onwards, every officer will be on the field. No excuses. All officers must carry a smartphone with a working camera and internet connectivity," he said.

"Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will monitor the drive. Any officer can get a call from the chief minister or me at any time. Today, I am at the head office; tomorrow, I could be in Mohali, Amritsar, Bathinda, Fazilka or Jaito," he said.

Bains further said an AI-powered app will track real time progress. The officers will have to remain available on video calls, and surprise random checks can be conducted anywhere without prior notice.

He asserted that the drive aims for "visible, documented results". From sanitation staff to municipal corporation commissioners, everyone will be on streets and in lanes so that people can see the impact on the ground. The cleanliness drive is being executed on the chief minister's directions to ensure every city and town in Punjab looks clean, Bains added.

(editor@dailyworld.in)