The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) received an award from HRD Minister N. Lokesh for its performance and services to the public, during the 80th Independence Day celebrations held at Makineni Basavapunnayya stadium in Vijayawada on Saturday.On the occasion, awards were presented to officials who rendered outstanding services in various departments at the district level.During the celebrations, the VMC set up a special tableau carrying the message ‘waste to wealth’. The tableau showcased various initiatives being undertaken by the municipal corporation, from waste collection to scientific waste management, to ensure cleanliness of the city.Along with the tableau, the VMC also displayed modern sanitation machinery, including mist sprayer vehicle that is used to control dust on roads, hook loader, which is used to collect large quantities of waste and construction debris, super sucker vehicle that uses suction technology to remove mud, silt, sewage and other waste accumulated in underground drainage systems, Road Doctor machine, which is used to identify potholes and damaged sections of roads and carry out necessary repairs. Published - August 15, 2026 08:00 pm IST