Srinagar: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Ramesh Kumar, has directed officers to expedite pending sanitation projects and strengthen field inspections to ensure that infrastructure created under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) is functional and benefits rural communities.
Chairing a review meeting on Thursday, Kumar assessed district-wise progress on Community Sanitary Complexes, compost pits, soak pits, waste segregation sheds, Plastic Waste Management Units, Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS), Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) and GOBARdhan biogas plants across Kashmir division.
He questioned delays in initiating work on Community Sanitary Complexes, noting that land identification and tendering should have been completed well in advance to meet targets linked to the financial year. He said land-related constraints should be identified and addressed during planning rather than cited later to explain delays.
Kumar also sought details of projects for which funds had been allocated, works taken up and projects completed. He stressed timely submission of proposals, compliance with prescribed procedures and proper utilisation of funds, saying implementation delays could not be attributed solely to government funding.
Emphasising that the creation of infrastructure was not enough, he directed officers to conduct regular field visits to check whether sanitation facilities were operational, identify deficiencies and ensure timely repairs.
The meeting also highlighted difficulties in identifying land for FSTPs, DEWATS facilities and GOBARdhan plants, along with gaps in technical training, capacity building and dedicated staffing at district, block and Gram Panchayat levels.
Kumar called for better coordination among departments to resolve operational issues involving vehicles, treatment infrastructure and electrical components. He also directed officers to form dedicated teams wherever necessary to address bottlenecks and improve the functioning of sanitation facilities.
Director Finance Umar Khan, Joint Director Planning Kamal Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director Rural Sanitation Kashmir Shabir Ahmed Hakak, Assistant Commissioners Panchayats and Executive Engineers of the Rural Engineering Wing attended the meeting.