Swachh app to redress sanitation woes

Areas to be notified to dump construction, demolition waste

Visakhapatnam: People can now utilise the Swachh app developed by Union Urban Development Ministry to get easily addressed for any type of sanitation problem pertaining to their area by uploading the details of area and with a photograph of that particular problem, informed Municipal Commissioner M Harinarayanan.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Harinarayanan said though the app was launched by Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on August 15, it was not being put to use in the limits of GVMC due to some technical problems.

“In the recent awareness workshop held in Vijayawada, the importance of using Swachh app was highlighted which was being utilised in all municipalities across the country,” he explained.

However, the app facility is presently available only on Android-based smart phones in the first phase which will be extended to other platforms soon. Stating that it is a remarkable change in addressing problems of sanitation, the Civic Chief said that grievances/issues also could be aired through the app.

Informing that it’s not worthwhile enforcing public to dump the construction and demolition waste at the specified area without creating such a facility, the Commissioner said such areas would be notified shortly. If it was needed, the GVMC also will lift such waste material after collecting reasonable charges, he added.

Coming to another initiative taken by the GVMC towards Swachh Visakha, he said that collection and segregation of wet and dry domestic waste at source will come into force from December 15.

“We have also identified schools with residential facility about the initiative and convinced them to implement,” he said. Harinarayanan further stated that in the first phase, organic waste compost machines will be set up at the six identified Rythu Bazars and also at Poorna Market for which tenders were called and adding that in future, such machines will be set up in all markets.

The GVMC will also put up organic waste compost machines in all 72 wards in association with Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWA) that come forward voluntarily in the first phase. All these initiatives are to bring a sea change in the solid waste management as per the directions of the Union Environment Ministry and Swachh Andhra Corporation and the municipal corporation is going ahead with a sustainable approach in implementing the initiatives with the help of public,” he explained.

To a query, Harinarayanan replied that the Swachh Sarvekshan-2017 will be held from January 4 to 11 in which the GVMC shall be competing with 500 metropolitan cities across the country and expecting a better rank in 2017 compared to 2016 Swachh Sarvekshan for which he sought public cooperation.