Centre lauds GMC’s green initiatives

Guntur: Centre has lauded the efforts of Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) in taking up effective sanitation management, public health initiatives and environmentally sustainable urban development practices. Surabhi Malik, director in the union housing and rrban affairs ministry, has said that several of the GMC‘s best practices could be replicated in other urban centres across the country. Leading a team from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), along with commissioners from various municipal corporations and municipalities across the state, Malik visited Guntur on Tuesday to review innovative projects being implemented by GMC in the areas of sanitation, renewable energy and sustainable urban development.Following the inspection, Malik expressed satisfaction over the coordinated efforts of GMC officials and staff in strengthening public health and sanitation services. She observed that the initiatives undertaken in Guntur have produced encouraging results and noted that there is significant scope for expanding cooperation between the Centre and UNIDO in urban development, sanitation and renewable energy sectors. She added that the successful models being implemented in Guntur would be examined for adoption in other cities.GMC commissioner K Mayur Ashok briefed the delegation on a range of innovative projects being carried out with the support of UNIDO. He highlighted the deployment of electric autos to improve sanitation services and public health management, explaining how the vehicles are being used for waste collection and cleanliness drives across the city. The Commissioner also detailed the establishment of charging stations for e-autos at reservoirs as part of GMC’s commitment to promoting environmentally friendly technologies.The Unido delegation visited IPD Colony, where officials demonstrated the door-to-door waste collection system. The team reviewed the segregation of wet and dry waste at source, awareness campaigns conducted among residents and the use of technology-driven solutions in waste management. Members of the delegation also interacted with rag pickers and inspected vehicles provided to them with the support of the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC). The team also visited the floating solar power plant established at the Sangam Jagarlamudi summer storage tank. Commissioner explained how the project not only generates clean energy but also helps reduce water evaporation. Manoj Mathur, technical expert, MoHUA and other senior officials were present.