Hans News Service Amaravati

AndhraPradesh has recorded an improvement in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan (SVS)-2026, with Guntur city and Ward-60 of Vijayawada securing All-India Rank 2 in their respective categories.

Conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the National Clean Air Programme, the survey assesses non-attainment cities on air-quality improvement measures. All 13 Non-Attainment Cities in Andhra Pradesh participated, while 726 wards were covered under the ward-level assessment. At the city level, Guntur secured Rank 2 under Category-II with a score of 195, improving sharply from Rank 6 in SVS-2025. It is Guntur’s best performance so far, surpassing its earlier Rank 3 in 2023.

The city also received a Rs 25 lakh national award.

At the ward level, Vijayawada Ward-60 secured All-India Rank 2 under Category-II and received a Rs 30 lakh cash award.

At the State level, Guntur Ward-42 and Vijayawada Ward-31 received recognition under Category-II, while Nellore Ward-06 was recognised under Category-III.

The survey also reflected wider improvement across Andhra Pradesh.

Eluru jumped from Rank 31 to Rank 4, Nellore from 18 to 9, Vijayawada from 13 to 8, Vizianagaram from 8 to 6 and Srikakulam from 16 to 11.

Municipal administration and urban development minister P Narayana said the results reflected the State government’s sustained efforts to improve urban living conditions. He said the government would further strengthen measures relating to road-dust control, scientific waste management, emission reduction and public participation.

Principal secretary S Suresh Kumar said the improved rankings resulted from close monitoring, coordination among departments and sustained field-level implementation.

The assessment covers measures against biomass and waste burning, road and construction dust, vehicular and industrial emissions, besides public awareness and reduction in particulate matter.

The national awards were announced on Swachh Vayu Diwas on September 7, following scrutiny and field verification by the Central Pollution Control Board and the MoEF&CC.