GUNTUR: In a proud moment, as Guntur bagged third rank in Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2023-24 under 10 lakh population category. Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) Mayor Kavati Siva Naga Manohar Naidu and Commissioner Kirthi Chekuri received the award along with Rs 25 lakh cash prize from Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav at an event held in Bhopal on Thursday.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as part of the National Clean Air Programme conducted Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2023 taking air quality improvement measures in the cities and conducted the evaluation of the self-assessment reports submitted by the 131 cities. Guntur is the only city to be selected from the entire southern region. Meanwhile, Amaravati and Mordabad bagged the first and second ranks respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, the Mayor said that as part of the various initiatives taken by the civic body to achieve better rank in Swachh Survekshan, GMC has taken up a special plantation programme. As a result, the greenery in the city increased to 30 per cent, which was only 17 per cent in 2021.
While the plants in central medians were only 10 km in the past, it increased to 23 km and the avenue plantation was increased from 20 km to 30 km this year. “Along with this, the construction of drain-to-drain roads, renovation of potholes, and usage of sweeping machines, and mist sprayers to prevent pollution and implementation of waste management practices, including composting and recycling and generation of electricity from wet waste at Jindal power project resulted in reducing pollution in the city,” the Mayor stated. He thanked the civic officials, and public representatives for their collected efforts in this achievement and extended his congratulations.
IMPRESSIBLE MEASURES
Special plantation programme to increase green cover
Renovation of potholes
Construction of drain-to-drain roads
Usage of sweeping machines & mist sprayers
Composting, recycling of wet waste