AP CM Naidu Calls for Clean Rivers, Mass Participation in Swachh Andhra Initiative
Vijayawada, Oct 2 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday expressed concern over the discharge of waste and untreated sewage into the Krishna and Godavari rivers and called for collective efforts to protect water bodies and maintain cleanliness across the State.
Addressing the Swarnandhra–Swachhandhra Awards–2026 ceremony held here, the Chief Minister said cleanliness was not the responsibility of the government alone and called upon all five crore people of the State to participate actively in the initiative as a mass movement.
Naidu pointed out that people living downstream depend on river water for drinking purposes and warned that pollution could affect not only the areas where it originated but also several other regions.
He said cleanliness should extend beyond personal hygiene and the maintenance of surroundings to include health and purity of thought.
Maintaining personal hygiene and clean surroundings would help prevent diseases, he added.
The Chief Minister said the government had established the Swachhandhra Corporation to expand and implement cleanliness initiatives across the State.
He recalled that inadequate attention to sanitation during the previous regime had resulted in tonnes of garbage accumulating on roads.
Naidu said the government was promoting the Net Zero concept in schools, colleges and hostels across the State.
As part of these efforts, the Swachhandhra Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT Kanpur on Net Zero in the presence of the Chief Minister to study innovative approaches and strengthen sustainability initiatives.
He said the government had also decided to undertake large-scale development works in rural areas under the Palle Panduga programme, alongside initiatives for urban development.
During the ceremony, Naidu presented the Swarnandhra–Swachhandhra Awards–2026 to Swachhata Warriors, villages, towns, schools, hospitals, institutions, campuses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for their contributions to cleanliness.
In the hotel category, Novotel Visakhapatnam received the award.
The Vijayawada–Payakapuram, Kurnool–C-Camp and Srikakulam–Willis Rythu Bazaars were also recognised for maintaining high standards of hygiene.
In the municipal category, Tenali, Chilakaluripet, Mangalagiri, Ponnur, Bobbili, Rajam, Yelamanchili, Palamaneru and Giddalur received the awards.
K. Moolapeta, Ravulapalem, Pattikonda, Duppada, Namburu and R.L. Puram Gram Panchayats were honoured in the Clean Gram Panchayat category.
In the hostel category, the Government Boys’ Hostel in Chittoor, BC Boys’ Hostel in Kadapa and Tribal Welfare Hostel in Anakapalli received awards.
The Ambedkar Gurukulam in Palnadu, Girls’ Residential School in Eluru and Girls’ Residential School in Bapatla were also recognised for their cleanliness initiatives.
The Dwaraka Nagar Bus Station in Visakhapatnam, the Chittoor Superintendent of Police Office and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) office received awards for maintaining cleanliness.
In the temple category, awards were presented to Tirumala Tirupati Temple, Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Temple and Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Simhachalam.
TNT KM
