Congress attacks TDP on Andhra Pradesh's poor show in Swachh Bharat rankings

VIJAYAWADA: The Congress in Andhra Pradesh has targetted the TDP-led government over the low ratings of two major cities in the state in the Swachh Bharat rankings.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is frequently visiting the two important cities - Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam - in the state which have been put at the 266th and 205th place, respectively, in the Swachh Bharat rankings, APCC spokesperson Kolanukonda Shivaji said.

Naidu is frequently visiting the two places for encouraging the 'Smart City' programme, but has failed to improve the cleanliness there, he alleged.

He also sought to know what has the CM achieved by giving lectures on cleanliness in other countries.

Naidu launched the 'Swachh Andhra Pradesh' programme with much fanfare and also headed the NITI Ayog's Chief Ministers Sub-Group on Swachh Bharat Mission, but his efforts in improving the cleanliness conditions in the state have shown poor results, Shivaji said.

He demanded that the state government should make public the funds allocated in last one year under the Swachh Bharat mission for urban local bodies.

Mysore has topped the Swachh Bharat rankings among 476 cities in the country, as per a recent government release.

All 476 Class-1 cities in 31 states and Union Territories, each with a population of above one lakh, were surveyed for the extent of open defecation and solid waste management practice.

The Swachh Bharat rankings are based on a total of 42 marks, including 20 for open defecation indicators and 22 for solid waste management indicators.

In Andhra Pradesh, 30 cities were surveyed.

The survey, conducted during 2014-15, was commissioned by the Ministry of Urban Development as required under the National Sanitation Policy of 2008.