Questions have been raised about methodology adopted in Swachh Survekshan Report 2017. Instead of encouraging sustainable practices like segregation at source and recycle and reuse, the survey seems to have rewarded cities that are focussing on collection of unsegregated waste and transporting it to landfills.

Urban India is now the world's third largest garbage generator. But the amount of waste generated is not as much of an issue as the fact that over 45 million tonnes (or 3 million trucks worth) of garbage is untreated and disposed of by municipal authorities each year in an unhygienic manner.

Indore is India’s cleanest city, according to the Swachh Survekshan 2017 (Swachh Bharat survey 2017), which was conducted in 434 cities and towns of the country. Other top 10 cleanest cities of the country are Bhopal, Visakhapatnam, Surat, Mysuru, Tiruchirapally, New Delhi Municipal Council, Navi Mumbai, Vadodara and Chandigarh.

Burgeoning urbanisation coupled with policy implementation gaps have resulted in growing disparities in the provision of public infrastructure services in urban areas of India.

The Policy, envisions, “All MP State cities and towns become totally sanitized, healthy and liveable and ensure and sustain good public health and environmental outcomes for all their citizens, with a special focus on hygienic and affordable sanitation facilities for the urban poor and women”.

This report is based on a performance assessment of 20 major Indian cities in terms of the operational effectiveness of the urban services being delivered to its citizens.