West Bengal CM launches cleanliness drive at Hooghly river ghat; stresses on ‘Namami Gange’ initiative

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) launched a cleanliness drive at a Hooghly river ghat in Bagbazar area in north Kolkata and said efforts would be made to ensure proper implementation of the ‘Namami Gange’ programme.

Mr. Adhikari began the programme by offering prayers at a temple located at the historic ‘Mayer Ghat’, associated with Ramakrishna Paramahansa’s wife Sarada Devi, and cleaned the ghat with a broom.

BJP leaders Agnimitra Paul and Tapas Roy, along with senior officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said cleanliness, development, law and order and employment generation are priorities for his government.

“Work under ‘Namami Gange’ should be carried out properly. It was not done in the past, and we will do it. The Ganga river should be kept clean,” he said.

The ‘Namami Gange’ programme is an integrated conservation mission to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of the Ganga river. The Hooghly river is a distributary of the Ganga river.

Mr. Adhikari also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Kolkata for the International Yoga Day programme on June 21 and asserted that the State government and the KMC would accord him a warm welcome. A few days ago, the civic body launched the ‘Swachh App’ as part of its sanitation and public participation initiatives.

KMC officials said around 20,000 civic workers would be involved in the cleanliness campaign and related activities across the city. The cleanliness drive is part of a series of programmes being organised by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21.

According to officials, the civic body has planned several public outreach initiatives focusing on sanitation, health awareness and fitness in the run-up to the annual event.

The programmes include cleanliness campaigns at selected locations, awareness activities at healthcare facilities and a marathon promoting physical fitness.