PNS|Vijayawada
Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana has urged municipalities and panchayats to prioritise waste management, describing the disposal of garbage as a major challenge. A workshop on ‘Capacity Building – Behavioural Change’ was held at a hotel here on Monday.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Narayana stated that 6,500 tonnes of solid waste are generated daily. He regretted that the previous YSRCP-led government had left behind 80 lakh tonnes of garbage. As per Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s directive, a target has been set to clear all the accumulated waste by 2 October 2025.
“Managing solid and liquid waste in municipalities is challenging. However, we are efficiently implementing policy measures adopted successfully in other states. Awareness programmes are being conducted to achieve gradual waste removal,” the Minister said.
He added that the Government had decided to undertake cleanliness drives under four themes and work systematically to ensure Andhra Pradesh becomes the top-ranked state in the country for cleanliness.
The Minister emphasised that public awareness was crucial, noting that people must avoid dumping waste on roads. He said wide-reaching campaigns would be conducted to promote recycling and proper waste disposal.
Swachhand Corporation Chairman Kommaredi Pattabhiram called on citizens to participate in making Andhra Pradesh a leader in waste management. He urged stakeholders attending the workshop to draft plans to further the state’s cleanliness efforts.
Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar observed that cleanliness is prioritised abroad and suggested that it should become an integral part of Indian culture too. He noted that Andhra Pradesh currently ranks sixth in waste management and assured that measures were being taken to improve its standing.
Later, Minister Narayana, Pattabhiram, and Suresh Kumar jointly released an IEC poster.
