Vijayawada Swachh Survekshan award: Despite 2024 floods, the city secured Super Swachh League title with remarkable disaster recovery and cleanliness efforts.
Vijayawada Garners Top “Super Swachh League” Award Despite 2024 Flood Crisis
Triumph Amid Adversity
Vijayawada has been recognized among India’s elite in the recently announced Swachh Survekshan 2024‑25, earning the “Super Swachh League City” status—a distinction reserved for cities finishing in the top three in at least two of the past three surveys
Despite enduring devastating floods between August 31 and September 9, 2024—triggered by unprecedented rainfall that overwhelmed both the Krishna River and Budameru rivulet—Vijayawada maintained its sanitation efforts and secured a position in the top four
Floods: The Test of Resilience
In late August 2024, Vijayawada faced one of its worst flood crises, as rainfall exceeded 29 cm in a single day. The floods claimed at least 35 lives and affected nearly 2.7 lakh residents Still, the city mobilized over 26 NDRF teams, 22 SDRF squads, IAF and Navy helicopters, drones, and satellite camps to manage rescue and relief operations
Swift Sanitation Operation
Following the floods, municipal authorities partnered with state-level sanitation workers to commence a massive cleanup campaign. Efforts included clearing animal carcasses, unclogging major drains using fire departments and JCBs, sprinkling bleaching powder, and deploying drones for mosquito proofing and health surveillanceThe health department also ramped up measures, establishing 64 medical camps across 32 wards and distributing 75,000 emergency medical kits via boats, helicopters, and mobile units
Civic Innovation
The Andhra Pradesh government’s Urban Development Ministry is spearheading modernization plans for Vijayawada’s drainage and canal infrastructure, targeting problem areas like the Budameru canal with proposals for desilting, encroachment removal, and structural improvements
Cleanliness Champions
Vijayawada’s success is part of broader recognition for Andhra Pradesh: municipal bodies in Tirupati, Guntur, GVMC (Visakhapatnam), and Rajahmundry also received national awards in the Swachh Survekshan 2024‑25 rankings At the award ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu applauded the efforts of civic leaders and sanitation workers
Why This News Matters
Enhancing Urban Governance
The award highlights the importance of robust urban management, even under extreme stress. For competitive exam aspirants, this showcases how governance frameworks—like sanitation and disaster response—can be evaluated and improved.
Focus on Infrastructure Resilience
The focused cleanup of drainage and canals post‑flood underscores India’s urban infrastructure challenges. Aspirants should note policy responses such as desilting, encroachment removal, and modernization plans framed to strengthen future readiness.
Integrating Health & Disaster Management
Coordination between civic bodies and health departments, especially the deployment of medical camps and emergency kits, highlights India’s integrated approach to public health and disaster management—a likely point of enquiry in exams like UPSC.
Central and State Dynamics
The interplay between central awards (Swachh Survekshan) and state-level execution (Andhra Pradesh’s initiatives) exemplifies the Centre‑State synergy model. Exam-takers should understand the roles of ministries, mission-based implementations, and local governance in India’s federal structure.
Historical Context
Vijayawada has been steadily gaining recognition in cleanliness rankings over the years:
However, recurrent flooding—markedly in 2024 when rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems—exposed urban planning limitations, prompting revival plans for Budameru rivulet and structural reforms in drainage channels
Key Takeaways from Vijayawada’s Cleanliness Triumph
| # | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | Vijayawada earned the “Super Swachh League City” award in Swachh Survekshan 2024‑25, marking top-tier cleanliness performance |
| 2 | Despite severe floods (Aug–Sep 2024) causing at least 35 deaths and affecting 2.7 lakh people, the city upheld sanitation operations |
| 3 | Post-flood cleanup involved sanitation workers, municipal staff, drones, bleaching, and JCBs targeting carcass removal, drain clearing, and public hygiene |
| 4 | Health interventions included 64 medical camps, 75,000 emergency kits, and mobile units to curb post‑flood diseases |
| 5 | Infrastructure reforms—desilting, encroachment removal, canal modernization—are underway to prevent future floods and enhance urban resilience |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the “Super Swachh League City” award?
The “Super Swachh League City” award is given to cities that consistently rank in the top three in the Swachh Survekshan survey over multiple years. Vijayawada earned this award in the Swachh Survekshan 2024‑25 despite facing a major flood crisis in 2024.
2. What caused the 2024 floods in Vijayawada?
Unprecedented rainfall in late August and early September 2024 overwhelmed the Krishna River and Budameru rivulet, leading to extensive flooding and disruption in Vijayawada.
3. What was the response of the municipal authorities during the flood crisis?
Authorities conducted mass cleanup operations, deployed drones, disinfected affected areas, and partnered with health departments to run medical camps and distribute over 75,000 emergency kits.
4. Which other Andhra Pradesh cities received cleanliness awards in 2024‑25?
In addition to Vijayawada, Tirupati, Guntur, GVMC (Visakhapatnam), and Rajahmundry received national Swachh Survekshan 2024‑25 awards.
5. Why is this news important for competitive exams?
It covers key areas like disaster management, urban infrastructure, Centre-State collaboration, and sanitation policy—all of which are relevant topics in IAS, PCS, SSC, and defence exams.
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