Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation aims for top rank in Swacch Survekshan

Visakhapatnam: After the port city lost its third place during Swacch Survekshan-2018, now the administration of Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) geared up to clinch the top rank in the ensuing Swacch Survekshan (SS)-2019.

While the port city stood on 205th in the ranking announced in 2015, it took major strides eventually to stand 5th and 3rd in the 2016 and 2017 rankings respectively.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior GVMC official said that they had lost third rank which was secured during SS-2017, because of many denizens were answered inappropriately during SS-2018 survey.

To overcome those issues during SS-2019, they had deployed some prominent tollywood actors and other folk artists to create awareness among citizens regarding the seven questions to be answered during the SS survey. The teams have been conducting programmes on wheels in the city roads since January 4 and it will be continued upto January 31, he added.

Various teams of folk artists were moving to many prime locations in the city on a van and educating the people about the GVMC facilities in waste segregation, sanitary land fill, waste paper-plastic processing and recycling centres.

GVMC Commissioner M Harinarayanan also urged the denizens to support the SS-2019, survey teams by giving the right answers for seven questions. The denizens can also call up on 1969 tollfree number and share their opinions on the facilities provided by the GVMC.

He also added that GVMC is planning to construct another 330 public toilets among 72 wards under its limits, which can facilitate around 4,500 seats with latest mechanisation in addition to the existing toilets.

During SS-2018, the GVMC in a record time, constructed around 13,000 individual toilets to encourage Open Defecation Free (ODF) programme and improved the community and public toilets in the city. 

After the district was announced as ODF district, GVMC now aiming to secure ODF (++Double plus) by eradicating open urination in the district. He also urged the people that majority should participate in the ensuing SS-2019 survey and help the city to secure top rank.