Minister Harjot Bains conducts 1 am inspection in Amritsar, launches a night sweeping drive
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), June 16, 2026: Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains carried out a surprise inspection of Amritsar’s newly launched night sweeping drive at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, as part of the state government's “Mission Clean Punjab” campaign aimed at keeping the holy city clean round the clock.
During his visit to the Walled City area, Bains reviewed sanitation operations being conducted under a dedicated cleaning shift running daily from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The initiative has been introduced to ensure that roads and public spaces remain spotless before devotees arrive at Sri Harmandir Sahib for Amrit Vela prayers.
Calling Amritsar a spiritual centre rather than just another city, the minister said maintaining its cleanliness should be viewed as “sewa” rather than merely a civic responsibility.
“I do not want to see a single wrapper, envelope or plastic bottle lying on the roads of this holy city,” Bains said while interacting with sanitation workers during the late-night inspection.
The minister inspected key stretches near Sri Darbar Sahib, reviewed the clearance of secondary garbage collection points, monitored door-to-door waste collection in narrow lanes and assessed the progress made in eliminating open dumping sites. He also interacted with sanitation staff to understand challenges faced during night operations.
Bains said daily cleaning of major roads and heritage areas in the Walled City would continue to ensure a cleaner environment for residents, pilgrims and tourists. He added that the removal of garbage points would also help address the issue of stray animals on city roads.
Expressing concern over littering, the minister appealed to residents not to throw waste from balconies, rooftops or windows, noting that such actions undermine the efforts of sanitation workers who continue their duties while the city sleeps.
Earlier in the day, Bains also conducted inspections with local elected representatives, municipal officials and senior administrators, directing authorities to address civic issues raised by residents on priority.
The minister reiterated that Mission Clean Punjab is being implemented through direct field monitoring rather than office-based reviews and stressed that public participation would be crucial to the campaign's success.
He said a cleaner Amritsar would not only improve the quality of life for residents but also strengthen the city's appeal as a major destination for pilgrims and tourists from across the world.