Nandyal: Law and Minority Welfare Minister NMD Farooq stressed that cleanliness is a collective social responsibility and urged every citizen to actively participate in building a clean and healthy town.

Along with district Collector G Raja Kumari, he participated in a special sanitation drive at Gandhi Chowk Market Bazaar in Nandyal on Saturday under the government's Swarnandhra-Swachh Andhra initiative.

During the programme, officials inspected sanitation work and directed traders not to dump waste on roads or into drains but to hand it over to municipal vehicles.

In a unique move to curb plastic pollution ahead of Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, the Minister and Collector inaugurated a 'Waste plastic exchange centre' at Nandyal Municipality. Under this scheme, citizens handing over one kilogram of plastic waste will receive one kg of sugar, one kg of Bambino vermicelli, or six eggs as incentive.

Minister Farooq warned of strict action, including fines, intensified CCTV surveillance and possible cancellation of trade licences against those dumping garbage, especially at night. He highlighted that the initiative would also provide livelihood support to poor waste collectors. Collector G Raja Kumari said the 17th phase of the programme is focused on eliminating single-use plastics and called for collective efforts from citizens, traders, and organisations to make Nandyal a model clean town.