Naidu Sets October 2 Deadline To Eliminate Legacy Waste In AP
The government aims to remove 20 lakh metric tonnes (MTs) of garbage accumulated in the past year, along with the 86 lakh MTs of untreated waste left behind by the previous administration: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu
TIRUPATI: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced that Andhra Pradesh will eliminate all waste across the state by December this year. He described the move as a crucial milestone in the state's journey towards a cleaner, healthier and sustainable future.
Addressing a large gathering at the Swarna Andhra – Swachh Andhra programme in Tirupati, he made it clear that the government aims to remove 20 lakh metric tonnes (MTs) of garbage accumulated in the past year, along with the 86 lakh MTs of untreated waste left behind by the previous administration.
The Chief Minister announced that all backlog waste will be cleared by October 2, and the recent accumulation will be removed by December. “Currently, 123 municipalities in the state generate nearly 9,000 MTs of waste daily, including 5,500 MTs of wet waste and 3,500 MTs of dry waste. Effective processing of this waste is critical,” he said, praising the initiatives undertaken by urban local bodies in this regard.
Naidu noted that five cities in the state – Tirupati, Guntur, Rajamahendravaram, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, have earned national recognition in the Swachh Survekshan rankings. He congratulated sanitation workers, municipal officials and citizens for the same, calling sanitation staff the real public servants of society.
Taking a strong stance against plastic pollution, the Chief Minister announced a state-wide ban on plastic products below 120 microns. He said all secretariats in the state will become plastic-free by August 15. The ban on single-use plastics will be fully enforced in all 17 municipal corporations by October 2. He appealed to citizens to adopt eco-friendly alternatives, warning that plastic waste poses severe threats to health and the environment through soil, water and air contamination.
“Just as we keep our temples clean, we should keep our homes and neighbourhoods clean”, he underlined, noting that Tirupati, as a global spiritual destination, should lead by example.
On the occasion, Naidu criticised the decline of clean politics in the state, observing that criminals have entered the system and must be removed like garbage. He maintained he has never engaged in murder politics but fought against Naxalism, factionalism and communal violence.
Targeting the YSRC, he accused the opposition party’s leaders of misrepresenting Vivekananda Reddy’s murder and politicising issues. He warned that those promoting murder politics will not be spared. “While I supported mango farmers with ?12,000 per tonne, Jagan Mohan Reddy resorted to Pulivendula politics by dumping mangoes on the road,” he remarked.
Earlier, the CM visited an exhibition organised to promote a plastic-free Andhra Pradesh. He inspected benches and other items made from recycled plastic. He stressed the need to transform waste into useful products as part of a circular economy model.
Naidu suggested involving DWCRA and MEPMA groups in this initiative. He closely examined items made from coconut waste by a budding entrepreneur. He directed officials to explore the potential of converting coconut shells from Tirumala-Tirupati into artistic and usable products.
