District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, along with officials from the district administration and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), took part in the ‘Zero Gap Sanitation Andhra’, as part of ‘Swarna Andhra-Swachch Andhra’ programme, at the YMCA on Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (January 24, 2026).
As part of the programme, the Collector first administered the ‘Swachh Andhra’ pledge to all the participants. He emphasised the importance of awareness programmes on environmental cleanliness, instilling a sense of responsibility among citizens, and spreading the message that ‘Swachh Andhra and Swachh Visakhapatnam’ are the responsibility of public. He stated that each individual must contribute to keeping their surroundings clean.
He further said that in the view of number of investments and industries coming into the city, ensuring a healthy environment must remain the foremost priority. He also reiterated the ban on the use of single-use plastic by adopting alternative and environmental-friendly materials. Later, Swachh Andhra Corporation Director Botsa Ramu also addressed the gathering.
Subsequently, the Collector, Swachh Andhra Corporation Directors, and officials distributed licence certificates to private septic tank cleaning vehicles, provided personal protective equipment (PPE) to sanitation workers, and released an awareness poster on septic tank cleaning. On this occasion, GVMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. E.N.V. Naresh Kumar and others were also present.
Published – January 24, 2026 07:09 pm IST
