Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao on Saturday commended sanitation workers and said that it is their collective effort that won the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) the first position in the special category of ‘Safaimitra Surakshit Sheher’ at the National level.

He was speaking during the ‘Swachh Awards’ felicitation ceremony organised by the Municipal Corporation at AU Convention Centre on the Beach Road on Saturday (July 26).

The Mayor said that the GVMC has about 5,800 sanitation workers, and with development abuzz, more sanitation workers are needed to be recruited. He thanked the sanitation workers, GVMC officials, city residents, and representatives of voluntary organisations for their contribution towards making Vizag a clean city and achieving this award.

MP Sribharat emphasised the importance of adopting advanced technology to make city even more beautiful. He said that the corporation has been implementing the “Swarna Andhra-Swachh Andhra” programme initiated by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as a movement with public participation.

He pointed out that without public awareness, even the best efforts of sanitation workers would be in vain. He also highlighted the Chief Minister’s efforts to bring more companies to the city with the goal of developing Visakhapatnam into the economic capital of the State.

District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad stressed on the need for maintaining cleanliness in the city, and said that investors evaluate sanitation, environment, traffic, roads, and water supply before committing investments in the city. 

GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg shared a personal observation of women sanitation workers cleaning at Nehru Bazaar at midnight, leaving their families behind for the city’s cleanliness. Appreciating their services, the Commissioner promised to address issues such as stray dog menace faced by workers immediately. 

All the representatives along with MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, Deputy Mayor Dalli Govinda Raju, TDP President Gandi Babji, and DCCB Chairman Kona Tatarau felicitated the sanitation workers, secretaries, UGD staff, several NGOs, and sanitary inspectors with Swachh Awards, certificates of appreciation, and mementos. They also visited stalls set up by NGOs promoting the use of eco-friendly products.