Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu participated in the Swarna Andhra–Swachh Andhra programme at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam on September 19 and reviewed ongoing efforts to keep the city's coastline clean. The visit focused on the Sagara Swachhata initiative and measures being taken to reduce plastic and other waste entering the sea.

During the programme, the Chief Minister inspected beach-cleaning activities and the system being used to digitally record and weigh plastic waste collected from the sea. He also interacted with sanitation workers, fishermen and scuba divers to understand how discarded fishing nets and plastic waste are being identified and removed from the seabed.

Officials informed him that a target has been set to remove 1,200 tonnes of plastic waste from the sea under the Sagara Swachhata initiative. The programme is focused not only on cleaning the beach but also on improving the systematic recovery and management of marine waste.

As part of the programme, Naidu virtually inaugurated the pilot site of the Ocean Plastic Recovery Centre at Pedda Jalaripeta. The centre is intended to support the organised recovery and management of plastic waste collected from the sea and strengthen efforts to address marine pollution.

The Chief Minister also inspected a demonstration of a modern sewerage robot introduced by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation for cleaning manholes and sewage drains. Officials explained the technology and its potential applications in improving sanitation and cleaning operations across the city.

The wider NIRMaL Sāgar initiative launched in Visakhapatnam is also focused on understanding the movement and accumulation of marine litter. The pilot programme involves scientific studies using ocean modelling, satellite remote sensing and AI/ML-based tools to identify marine-litter hotspots and support targeted cleanup and mitigation measures.

 

The initiatives place emphasis on reducing marine pollution at its source, including preventing plastic and solid waste from reaching the sea through the city's drainage network. Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat has also called for engineering and technology-based measures to prevent waste from entering drains and ultimately reaching the coastline.