Minister Ponguru Narayana announced plans to transform municipalities across Andhra Pradesh into "dumping yard-free" zones. While waste-to-energy plants are already operational in Visakhapatnam and Guntur, six additional facilities are under construction.
The government is also establishing new 'Fresh Waste Plants' to manage waste in 107 municipalities, aiming to convert 5,385 tonnes of waste into compost and biogas daily.
During visits to Kondapalli and Ibrahimpatnam in NTR District, Minister Narayana and MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad inspected the new Fresh Waste Plant in Kondapalli and the Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant in Ibrahimpatnam. He criticised the previous government for leaving behind a backlog of 150 lakh tonnes of waste after collecting a 'waste tax'. The Coalition Government has committed to clearing this waste and aims to operationalise all plants by the end of next month.
The Andhra Pradesh government has approved Rs 59.85 crore for five new CBG plants in Rajamahendravaram, Nellore, Guntur, Ongole, and Ibrahimpatnam, alongside an upgrade to the existing Vijayawada plant at a cost of Rs 9.45 crore. These plants will have a combined capacity of 125 tonnes per day, with each unit capable of processing 25 tonnes daily. Funding is being provided by the Central Government, State Government, urban local bodies, and private investors.
Minister Narayana highlighted that the initiative aims to turn municipal waste into clean energy, reducing reliance on dumping yards and strengthening urban energy security. He described it as a vital step towards sustainable waste management and environmental conservation, aligning with the 'Swachhandhra' (Clean Andhra) programme. "Creating wealth from waste is the policy of the coalition government," he stated.