Improve sanitation in Kurnool city: Minister Bharath

Sanitation worker in Chittoor district. Representative image
| Photo Credit: Representative image

Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath on Monday directed officials of the Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC) to intensify efforts to maintain cleanliness in the city.

He said: “Complaints related to the upkeep of cleanliness are on the rise. The sanitary inspection staff should focus on this aspect.”

During the review meeting with KMC Commissioner S. Ravindra, sanitary inspectors, secretaries, and staff, the Minister said: “If there is no improvement in sanitation, the staff and officials concerned will be held responsible, and action will be taken against them.”

Mr. Bharath stressed that Kurnool city should aim to develop on par with Visakhapatnam city when it comes to sanitation.

He instructed officials to eliminate garbage dumping points in the city and to identify and warn residents dumping garbage on the roads. “If they do not heed, take action against such people,” he told officials. He also called for strict action against those posting banners and posters on main roads and junctions. He said that if the banners and buntings obstructing CCTV visuals they would not be spared.

Commissioner Ravindra Babu emphasised the importance of door-to-door garbage collection and the importance of raising public awareness on dumping garbage in drains and canals. In the review meeting he revealed that the government has decided to set up a waste-to-energy plant in Kurnool. “This plant will generate power from garbage collected from the city and municipalities,” he said.

In a separate meeting with contractors, he expressed dissatisfaction with delays in project execution. He said: “Some contractors have not started work even after being awarded tenders.” He urged them to speed up work and warned that contracts may be cancelled if deadlines are not met.

Responding to concerns raised by contractors, Mr. Bharath assured them that their issues would be resolved. He also shared that the State government is coming up with a simplified and easy way of payment to contractors.