Sonepat/New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS): The O.P. Jindal Global University in Sonipat in Haryana has secured 2nd rank in 'Swachh Campus Ranking' 2019 in the Residential Universities category.

It is the third time in a row that the JGU has bagged the award, a university spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The award process was taken up by the HRD Ministry as part of the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' of the government to promote environmental hygiene in higher education system and beyond.

JGU bagged 1st and 2nd position in Swachh Campus Rankings in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

R. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Higher Education Department, handed over the awards in New Delhi on December 3.

As many as 6,900 higher educational institutions had applied for the award in 2019, of which 140 were shortlisted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development for inspection.

In his speech, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said: "The ranking system is based on parameters of hygiene like student-toilet ratio, hostel and hostel kitchen hygiene, availability of water, water conservation, campus greenery, administrative responsibility for hygiene etc."

Varsity's founding Chancellor Naveen Jindal said it had strived to maintain world-class standards on the campus and implement best practices in waste management and other areas.

University Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) C. Raj Kumar said: "The recognition will motivate us to achieve higher standards in cleanliness."

Nearly 57 per cent of JGU campus is under green cover, due to which it hosts a variety of flora and fauna. The university also works in cooperation with over 10 villages in its vicinity on cleanliness and hygiene issues and is extending its campaign to another 15 villages.