Vijaywada Villages to get e-vehicles for waste collection by January

The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development department, which has taken solid waste management in the gram panchayats as a priority, has expedited the implementation of green initiatives as a part of its efforts towards sustainable waste management initiative. The department has set January as dedline to introduce power autorickshaws (battery-operated) and tricycles for garbage collection in all gram panchayats and December for completing the construction of Solid Waste Processing Centres (SWPCs) and appointment of green ambassadors for segregation and processing of garbage. The officials explained that a total of 29,474 tricycles and 7,127 power autos will be procured for the collection of garbage in all the villages.

While the tricycles will be used for primary garbage collection (door-to-door), the power autos will be engaged for secondary collection (collection centre to SWPCs).Further, out of the targeted 9,000 SWPCs, the department has been able to complete 6,565. Of these, 3,619 SWPCs have been handed over to the gram panchayats. The remaining will be ready by end of December. The officials said that the construction of sheds was being taken up with convergence of MNREGS, Swachh Bharat Mission (gramin) and other relevant funds.

The officials are also focussing on the appointment of Green Ambassadors, who would segregate the waste and ensure its processing at the SWPCs.“We have already positioned 26,573 Green Ambassadors out of the total required 35,617. The remaining will be appointed by the end of this month,” the official added.
As a part of Swachh Andhra Mission, the department is working towards effective liquid waste management as well. To this effect, the officials are ensuring creation of soak pits in all the villages.