The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has launched a first?of?its?kind boat awareness campaign along the Bandar Canal as part of its Catch the Rain programme to promote clean waterways, rainwater harvesting and urban sanitation. The operation began at Ambedkar Park in Krishnalanka and was led by the corporation's biologist Ch. Surya Naik. Municipal officials travelled along the canal in a boat while monitoring the waterway and making announcements to residents via a public address system. The campaign sought to raise awareness among communities living on canal banks.

Officials urged residents not to dispose of plastic bags, household refuse, construction debris or other waste into the canals, explaining that indiscriminate dumping obstructs the free flow of rainwater during the monsoon and increases the risk of flooding, waterlogging and public health hazards. The message also emphasised the importance of using designated collection points for waste and of collective civic responsibility in maintaining drainage networks. The campaign was intended to complement ongoing monitoring of canals carried out by the corporation.

The initiative additionally promoted the installation of rainwater harvesting pits in houses, apartment complexes, commercial establishments and government offices to improve groundwater recharge and strengthen long?term water security. Municipal sources described the drive as a step towards enhancing the resilience of the city's water management and reducing pressure on urban drainage during heavy rains. Staff from the corporation's malaria wing participated in the campaign to underline links between sanitation and public health.

The corporation said it will continue regular awareness programmes on environmental protection, rainwater conservation and solid waste management and will monitor waterways throughout the monsoon season. It appealed for sustained community participation and for local stakeholders to treat rainwater conservation as a shared responsibility. The campaign is part of a wider effort to foster cleaner canals and a more resilient urban environment.