Five Municipal Corporations in Andhra Pradesh have been selected in various categories of the Swachh Sarvekshan Awards 2024, announced by the Government of India. Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry Municipal Corporations have been selected for these awards.
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development gives these awards every year across the country according to various criteria. Minister for Municipal Administration Dr P. Narayana will receive these awards from President Draupadi Murmu in Delhi on the 17th of this month, on behalf of the state government.
AP has received these under the category of Super Swachh League Awards based on population. Vijayawada Municipal Corporation was selected in the population category of more than 10 lakhs, Guntur Municipal Corporation in the population category of 3 lakhs to less than 10 lakhs, and Tirupati Municipal Corporation in the population category of 50,000 to 3 lakhs.
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation received the Ministerial Award under the Special Category. Rajahmundry Corporation was selected for the State-level Ministerial Award.
AP Swachhandhra Corporation Chairman Pattabhi Ram has expressed happiness over the selection of major cities in Andhra Pradesh for the Swachh Sarvekshan Awards. He said that these awards were received due to the Swachh Andhra programs undertaken by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. On this occasion, Pattabhiram congratulated the officials, sanitation staff and people who worked hard for this.
It may be recalled that AP has won four national and one state-level awards in the Swachh Survekshan rankings announced by the Center for the year 2023. In the All India Clean City category, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has secured 4th rank, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation 6th rank, and Tirupati Municipal Corporation 8th rank.
Guntur Corporation has secured 2nd rank in the country as the fastest growing urban local body and 17th rank in the clean city category. At the state level, Pulivendula has won the award as the Cleanest City in AP.