Jammu: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj Mohammad Aijaz Asad on Friday directed all districts and field officers to ensure strict and time-bound compliance with Supreme Court directions regarding implementation of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026.
The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting convened to assess implementation of the SWM Rules across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Anoo Malhotra, Umar Khan, Superintending Engineers of REW, Deputy Directors Rural Sanitation, Assistant Commissioners Panchayat and other officers.
During the meeting, the Secretary said the Supreme Court, through various orders issued on February 19, April 29 and May 5, 2026, had laid down comprehensive directions for effective implementation of the SWM Rules by States, Union Territories, District Collectors and Pollution Control Boards.
He directed all districts to prepare and submit comprehensive plans for door-to-door waste collection in rural areas within stipulated timelines to strengthen waste collection systems.
Mohammad Aijaz Asad also stressed constitution of Village and Block Sanitation Committees under the supervision of District Sanitation Committees headed by Deputy Commissioners wherever these are yet to be formed.
He further directed wide dissemination of the SWM Rules, including translation into regional languages, and called for awareness workshops at UT, district, block and panchayat levels to educate people about scientific waste management practices.
The Secretary said UT-level action plans had already been submitted in compliance with earlier Supreme Court directions and stressed the need for effective implementation on the ground and timely submission of compliance reports.
He reiterated that four-stream segregation of waste — wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste — must be implemented across all rural local bodies without exception.
The Secretary also directed districts to identify and register all Bulk Waste Generators, operationalise Special Cells under Deputy Commissioners for monitoring implementation of SWM Rules and ensure scientific management of legacy dumpsites through biomining and bioremediation.
He stressed effective use of the mWater portal for monitoring sanitation assets and directed that all sanitation assets be made fully functional within the prescribed timelines.
Warning against open burning of waste, the Secretary said a zero-tolerance approach would be adopted in such cases.
During the meeting, the Director General Rural Sanitation presented a detailed overview of the SWM Rules-2026, including the responsibilities of departments, Panchayati Raj Institutions and implementing agencies.
