Screen grab of VMC commissioner J Nivas receiving Swachh Bharat award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Indore on Saturday
Screen grab of VMC commissioner J Nivas receiving Swachh Bharat award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Indore on Saturday

Vijayawada bags 5th place in Swachh survey

PM presents award at Indore; beautification works on cards in 110 urban local bodies

VIJAYAWADA:  Three urban local bodies (ULBs) from Andhra Pradesh have figured among top 10 cleanest cities (more than one lakh population) in the country as per the Swachh Survekshan-2018 rankings announced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. While Vijayawada got the fifth rank, Temple Town Tirupati stood 6th, followed by Port City Visakhapatnam in the 7th place. The Swachh Survekshan Awards were presented to the respective municipal authorities by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a programme held at Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. 

Minister for Municipal Administration P Narayana lauded the efforts of the ULBs to promote hygiene and promised to increase funds for maintenance of sanitation and taking up beautification works in the 110 ULBs in the State. For the first time, Vijayawada city figured among the top 10 cleanest cities in the country in more than one lakh population category and also achieved the Cleanest City award under above one million population in Swachh Survekshan-2018 survey. The city improved its ranking from last year as it secured the 5th rank from the last year’s 19th rank.  Vijayawada secured 3,580 marks out of the total 4,000 which included 1,120 marks (Service level progress), 1,195 marks (Direct observation) and 1,265 marks (Citizen feedback and Swachhata Mobile Application). 

‘’It’s a proud moment for the people of Vijayawada. By giving top priority to maintenance of sanitation, the municipal corporation achieved the Cleanest City award in Swachh Survekshan-2018. Being located in Capital Region Amaravati, securing such a prestigious award is a remarkable achievement for the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation,” said Mayor Koneru Sreedhar, after receiving the award. On the occasion, he also thanked one and all for their cooperation in getting the top rank in the country.  

After securing the 9th rank in Swachh Survekshan 2017, the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) improved its position by getting the 6th rank this year. Tirupati scored 3,576 marks out of the total 4,000, which included 1,207 marks (Service level progress), 1,125 marks (Direct observation) and 1,244 marks (Citizen feedback and Swachhata Mobile Application). 

It was a shock to Visakhapatnam, as the Smart City had come down to the seventh place from the third spot in the Swachh Survekshan 2018 results. Visakhapatnam got 3,547 marks out of the total 4,000, while Tirupati and Vijayawada are ahead. This is also for the first time since the last Swachh Bharat 2015-16, Vizag is not among the top five.  Even during Swachh Survekshan campaign, Vizagites and the officials of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation were optimistic about the city securing top spot with a large number of public actively taking part in the Citizen Feedback component of Swachh Survekshan-2018.

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