Srinagar: Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Mohammad Aijaz Asad on Tuesday directed all Deputy Commissioners to prepare comprehensive District Sanitation Plans within one week to ensure universal door-to-door waste collection across rural Jammu and Kashmir.
The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting held under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen.
The Secretary said the plans must begin with Panchayat-wise mapping of existing sanitation infrastructure, including segregation sheds, Plastic Waste Management Units, compost pits, soakage facilities, waste collection points, transport vehicles, and other assets created by the department. He stressed that these facilities must be effectively integrated into the waste collection chain.
He further instructed districts to design Panchayat-wise collection routes, assess manpower requirements, and establish proper linkages between household waste collection and scientific processing or disposal facilities. Cluster-wise review meetings will be conducted after submission of the district plans, he added.
Highlighting past shortcomings, Asad noted that several sanitation assets were created at unsuitable locations and said future planning must ensure better accessibility, utility, and long-term sustainability.
He also directed strict implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, making four-stream segregation at source mandatory, including wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste, and special care waste. Domestic hazardous waste such as medicines and chemicals should also be handled separately, he said.
On sustainability, the Secretary said dedicated funds have been earmarked for door-to-door collection, segregation, and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure. However, he stressed that regular collection of user charges is essential to ensure financial viability.
He emphasised that waste management systems should not remain dependent solely on government funding, underlining the need for community participation, cost recovery, and efficient local management.
Calling for stronger public engagement, Asad directed intensified awareness campaigns, with special focus on tourist destinations, markets, hospitals, schools, urban-rural fringe areas, and legacy waste sites.
District administrations were also asked to maintain strict vigilance against roadside dumping, accumulation of animal waste, choked drains, and open burning of garbage.
The Secretary further directed verification of sanitation coverage data and asked Assistant Commissioners Panchayats to reconcile figures with Deputy Commissioners before finalising the plans.
Earlier, Director General Rural Sanitation Anoo Malhotra presented a detailed overview of progress under SBM-Grameen Phase II, highlighting improvements in source segregation and participation of Panchayats, self-help groups, and NGOs.
