New Delhi: Mysuru in Karnataka has topped the list of the cleanest cities in India for the second year in a row.

It was followed by Chandigarh, Tiruchirapalli, New Delhi Municipal Council area and Visakhapatnam, said a report following a nationwide survey, "Swachh Survekshan 2016" under the 'Swachh Bharat' Mission.

"The survey is not done to demoralise any city or place of the country. It aims at generating a healthy competition among them," Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told reporters while releasing the survey report here.

It aims at popularising the 'Swachh Bharat' Mission, "and to bring competitive spirit among people to keep their cities clean", the minister added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi was ranked 65th among 73 cities surveyed.

The survey, first since the launch of the 'Swachh Bharat' Mission in October 2014 by the prime minister, was carried out by Quality Council of India.

The government had commissioned a survey on the sanitation scenario in 75 major cities
including 53 with a population of above 10 lakh each and state capitals.

West Bengal's Kolkata and Noida of Uttar Pradesh will participate in the next round, hence the ranking this year was for 73 cities.

New Delhi was ranked based on its three municipal corporations. While East Delhi Municipal Corporation was ranked 52, North and South Delhi Municipal Corporation were 43 and 39, respectively.

The list of the top 10 includes Mysuru, Chandigarh, Tiruchirapalli, New Delhi Municipal Council area, Visakhapatnam, Surat, Rajkot, Gangtok, Pimprichindwad and Greater Mumbai. (IANS) (pic courtesy: lifeamongzillions.wordpress.com)