VIJAYAWADA: Guntur city has secured the 3rd rank in clean air survey across cities of India carried out under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Guntur happens to be the only city in south India to receive the award.
Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) commissioner Keerthi Chekuri said Amravati in Maharashtra stood first, followed by Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh in the 10 lakh population category. She said 131 cities competed in the NCAP survey.
The National Clean Air Programme awards will be presented on September 7 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. On behalf of Guntur, city mayor K.S.N. Manohar Naidu and GMC commissioner will receive the award.
Keerthi Chekuri said Guntur bagged the award for increasing greenery in the city, repairing potholes, constructing drain-to-drain roads and reducing air pollution. She pointed out that compared to 2021, greenery in the city has increased from 17 per cent to 30 per cent.
In the past, plantations along central medians ran for 10 kilometres. Now, they have grown to 23 kilometres. Avenue plantation has increased from 20 kilometres to 30 kilometres.
The commissioner underlined that drain-to-drain roads have enabled sweeping machines to clean main roads. Mist sprayers deployed have reduced air pollution. In addition, Guntur city has improved solid waste management, is composting wet waste and is recycling dry waste. A waste to energy plant has also been set up by Jindal for power generation.
