The government kicked off ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ to boost sanitation awareness among city dwellers in the State. P. Sampath Kumar,the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, launched initiative on Saturday with help from A. Siri,the District Collector, and Gouru Charitha Reddy,the Panyam MLA. The operation's first phase started with desilting and sanitation work at the drainage canal near Ashwini Hospital and the Suddavagu stream in A-Camp area.
Kumar stressed that public participation is key to keeping things clean. He pointed out that local bodies handle 80% of sanitation work, while community efforts make up the other 20%. The initiative seeks to raise awareness and show that cities can stay clean with active involvement from residents.
As part of the larger Swarnandhra–Swacchandhra initiative, special sanitation drives will roll out over four weeks. Week one will tackle cleaning roads and intersections; week two will focus on desilting drains,canals, and channels in all urban areas . Kumar commended the Kurnool Municipal Corporation for transforming the K.C. Canal,crediting Commissioner Challa Obulesu for the success .
Local bodies face financial challenges, prompting the government to step in for costs tied to bio-mining and e-auto distribution. Kumar also said district collectors would be given the authority to crack down on environmentally harmful activities. New rules will soon come out to impose hefty fines for littering, with legal action to follow if needed.
In the third week of Operation Clean Sweep, awareness programs will zero in on waste segregation, especially in commercial zones. The last week will focus on cleaning public toilets and spots where waste has piled up . Collector Siri mentioned city generates about 225 tonnes of waste every day. She urged residents to sort their household waste into wet and dry before throwing it out,which will help manage it better through Integrated Solid Waste Management Plant.
The city has already made headway in cutting down waste through bio-mining,getting rid of millions of tonnes of refuse. Government and community efforts are vital for lasting improvements in sanitation and public health.
