Andhra Pradesh launches two weeks long cleaning campaign

Gokaraju Gangaraju , Narasapuram MP taking part in the Swachh Pakhwada programme on Gandhi Hill Vijayawada on Sunday (Photo courtesy: The Hans India)

Andhra Pradesh Tourism department has launched ‘Swachh Pakhwada’ (clean fortnight), a tourism and cleanliness campaign, to attract tourists to various destinations in the state.

The Swachh Pakhwada was launched by the Union government in association with the State governments and Union Territories exhorting people to participate in the two-week campaign of cleaning. As part of the campaign, the Andhra Pradesh tourism department will take up activities like cleaning of surroundings, placing of dustbins, conduct cleaning awareness rallies in all 13 districts across the state.

Gokaraju Gangaraju , MP of Narasapuram, inaugurated the Swachh Pakhwada campaign atop Gandhi hills here on Sunday. Gangaraju, along with tourism department officials and school children cleaned the Gandhi hills area where a giant ‘stupa’ (a pillar monument) was installed to mark the launching of Swachh Pakhwada, as part of the  Swachh Bharat (Clean India) campaign.

Stupa at the Gandhi Hill

“Andhra Pradesh has more tourism opportunities than Kerala, but the state is lagging in attracting the tourists. Many foreigners are coming to Kerala, but we fail to attract them due to poor development of tourism in the state. Tourism cannot be developed without clean environment. Our teachers and parents should educate children on the importance of hygiene and clean environment” said Gangaraju while inaugurating the event.

R Mallikarjuna Rao, AP tourism department executive director, said the department will observe Swachh Pakhwada campaign from September 16 to 30. He further said the World Tourism Day would be celebrated in all districts on September 27 and Swachh Pakwada campaign will continue until September 30.

The MP also inaugurated Paryatan Parv tourism promotion campaign launched by the Union government across India from September 16 to 27.  The tourism department will organize rallies, essay writing competitions and other events for students in the state on the occasion.