LUCKNOW, Sept. 14 -- Lucknow may have topped the country among cities with a population of over one million in the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2026, but a drive through some of its roads tells a different story. Days after the city secured the No. 1 rank with a score of 198, construction and demolition (C&D) waste dumped along prominent stretches and gaps in mechanised road sweeping continue to raise questions about how clean-air measures are being implemented on the ground.

Waste management earns full marks

The contrast comes as waste management and road cleaning form an important part of the 200-mark survey. Solid waste management carries 40 marks, while C&D waste management carries 10 marks. Mechanised road sweeping also contributes to th...