The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has stepped up preparations for the Swachh Survekshan 2026, as a central assessment team is expected to visit the city next month (March 2026).
During the inspection, the central team will evaluate multiple aspects of urban sanitation, including cleanliness in municipal wards, door-to-door garbage collection, source segregation of waste, maintenance of drains, upkeep of public toilets, and the functioning of waste processing units. Public awareness on scientific waste disposal practices will also be assessed. Educational institutions are likely to be inspected to verify the implementation of sanitation and waste management practices at the school level.
The nationwide cleanliness survey carries a total of 12,500 marks, with significant weightage given to parameters such as Certification, Open Defecation Free (ODF) certification and Garbage Free City (GFC) ratings, Citizen Feedback, etc.
In preparation, the GVMC has intensified its efforts, launching a series of awareness campaigns to promote source segregation and responsible waste disposal among residents. Officials are focusing on improving field-level monitoring and strengthening sanitation infrastructure to ensure better compliance with Swachh Survekshan guidelines.
However, several challenges persist. Sanitation standards in a number of wards have reportedly deteriorated, raising concerns ahead of the inspection. Local corporators had flagged irregular garbage collection and inadequate source segregation in their respective areas. In addition, operational issues at the garbage transfer station in Gajuwaka have continued for the past few days, further compounding the problem. The corporation is also facing a shortage of sanitation staff, affecting routine waste management services across the city.
“The GVMC is concentrating on all key parameters under the Swachh Survekshan framework, including processing of legacy waste, strengthening door-to-door waste collection, monitoring bulk waste generators, and ensuring the effective functioning of the Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste processing plant,” said GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg.
Mr. Garg also acknowledged the concerns and assured that immediate steps would be taken to address sanitation gaps and resolve the shortage of workers. He said that the council had recently approved the appointment of nearly 250 sanitation workers.
Published – February 14, 2026 07:00 pm IST
