Swachh Survekshan: GVMC aims at securing rank among top 5 in 2021

Visakhapatnam: If you have the habit of relieving yourself in public places, or spitting or littering, there is a higher possibility of attracting a penalty.

With Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) considering measures to score improved Swachh Survekshan (SS) – 2021 rankings, the focus is now on every parameter that aids in making Visakhapatnam stand out in earning the score.

From finding a place in the top 10 ranks secured last year, the GVMC is inching forward to top five in SS-2021. As a part of the endeavour, the municipal corporation is paying special attention on every aspect of the survey.

In tune with this, Municipal Commissioner G Srijana gave clear instructions to the zonal commissioners across the city to lay focus on preventing urination in public places, open defecation, littering and spitting.

Sanitary inspectors and ward sanitary secretaries were asked to maintain community and public toilets well. Along with keeping a close tab on preventing open urination, defecation and spitting, the Municipal Commissioner directed the officials concerned to charge penalty against the violators.

Zonal Commissioners, assistant medical officers, mechanical engineers, sanitary inspectors and sanitary secretaries will now pay larger attention on every parameter of Swachh Survekshan and ensure sustainability of the sanitation. The corporation officials are laying emphasis on gaining mileage in all the parameters of SS-2021, including direct observation, garbage-free cities ratings, segregation and processing of waste and citizens' feedback through voting.

Additional Commissioner V Sanyasi Rao says that those urinating in public or spitting or littering or defecating will attract a penalty which may even scale up to Rs 5,000. "We are charging penalty against the violators and every week, not less than 150 persons are being charged for violating the norms," explains the Additional Commissioner.

Earlier, slips in matching up with certain parameters eventually made the city lag behind in Swachh Survekshan rankings. "But this time, we do not want to take any chances and hence even the minute detail is being considered with great attention. This apart, steps are afoot to identify vulnerable spots where people are used to relieving themselves and beautify them with impressive paintings on the walls and arranging flowering plants," says D Sridhar, Zonal Commissioner (V).

To intensify the cleanliness drive, the zonal commissioners are visiting wards and building awareness among the residents against relieving themselves in public places and educating them on waste segregating at source.