After Tarakeswar win, Bengal sets statewide cleanliness contest, targets national top three: UDMA minister

Kolkata, Nov 12 (UNI) West Bengal will turn Tarakeswar's national cleanliness recognition into a statewide competition among urban local bodies, with Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul setting a target of placing at least one city from the state among India's top three cleanest next year. The department will soon introduce a standard operating procedure (SOP) to assess and recognise wards where residents, elected representatives and civic authorities jointly maintain cleanliness and civic standards. Competitions among municipalities and municipal corporations will follow, based on parameters similar to the Centre's Swachh Survekshan. "Tarakeswar has become a milestone. We want…