Vizag Port Tops Nation in Swachhta Pakhwada Awards 2024

Visakhapatnam is gradually stabilising as a clean city. As an extension to the initiative, now the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has achieved first place at the national level in the Swachhta Pakhwada Awards 2024.

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA) secured the second place and the Indian Maritime University (IMU) came third in the competition organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW). The ministry specially hailed Vizag Port for its outstanding efforts in cleanliness and sanitation initiatives.

Port Secretary T Venugopal said that the Port undertook several initiatives under the themes of “swachhta Ki Bhagidari” and “Sampoorna Swacchta”, as per the guidelines issued by the ministry. The cleanliness drives included tree plantation campaign titled “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (One Tree in Mother’s Name), wall murals and artwork, awareness programs in schools, cultural events, and creative competitions to promote the message of Swachh Bharat.

Another significant initiative is a mega clean-up drive at the Fishing Harbour, during which sunken boats that had been submerged for over 15 years were removed.

The Port has also organized greenery development and landscape beautification programmes planting a total of 31,800 saplings across the ASR, Anakapalli, and Visakhapatnam districts.

Apart from extensive environment sustainability and green drives, the Ports’ Medical department organized a Safai Mitra Suraksha Camp for sanitation workers, offering preventive health checkups, distribution of PPE kits and access to healthcare facilities. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Port Chairman Dr M. Angamuthu, IAS, congratulated the staff and stakeholders involved for their efforts.