Fresh waste processing plants coming up in 107 municipalities: Minister

Vijayawada: Municipal administration and urban development minister Narayana on Friday said the govt is taking concrete steps to make all municipalities in Andhra Pradesh free from dumping yards through scientific waste management initiatives. The minister, accompanied by Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad, inspected the under-construction fresh waste processing plant in Kondapalli municipality and reviewed the progress of the project.Speaking on the occasion, Narayana said the government is strengthening waste management infrastructure across the state. He noted that waste-to-energy plants are already operational in Visakhapatnam and Guntur, while six new additional plants are being established in different regions.As an interim measure, the govt is setting up fresh waste processing plants in all 107 municipalities to ensure efficient handling of municipal solid waste. These facilities are expected to process around 5,385 tonnes of waste generated daily and convert it into useful products such as compost and biogas.Criticising the previous YSRCP govt, Narayana alleged that despite imposing a garbage tax, it left behind nearly 150 lakh tonnes of legacy waste across the state. He further said that their government has undertaken large-scale efforts to clear the accumulated waste and restore environmental hygiene.The minister further asserted that the plants currently under construction would be completed and commissioned by the end of June, significantly improving waste management standards in urban local bodies.