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I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at SRINAGAR: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission–Gramin (SBM-G) and to deliberate on the formulation of the Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) 2026–27 for Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Director General, Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra; Additional District Development Commissioners (ADDCs); Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers of REW; Assistant Commissioners Panchayats (ACPs); and other concerned officers.
Reviewing the status of SBM-G assets, it was noted that community-level works such as Community Compost Pits, Community Soak Pits, Community Sanitary Complexes and Segregation Sheds have shown encouraging progress. However, larger infrastructure projects—including Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs), Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs), DEWATS and GOBARdhan plants—continue to lag, primarily due to low levels of tendering and slow execution.
The Secretary stressed that Plastic Waste Management Units must be developed in and around Yatra transit camps to strengthen sanitation arrangements and waste handling mechanisms. He noted that such facilities would also support revenue generation and improve overall upkeep of Yatra infrastructure, underscoring the need for integrated planning and sustained maintenance.
He said districts like Rajouri, Jammu, Reasi, Samba, and Udhampur have reported high levels of tender finalisation, early work commencement, and substantial completion of sanitation assets. Similarly, Bandipora and Kupwara have also recorded steady improvement, signalling better coordination between planning and execution at the district level.
Highlighting environmental concerns, Secretary emphasised the need for a permanent solution for debris management in both rural and semi-urban areas. Addressing implementation gaps, he directed that tendering for all pending major assets be completed immediately, and works commenced without delay where allotments have already been made. He made ADDCs directly responsible for resolving land-related issues and ensuring commencement of works, calling for close coordination with line departments and regular district-level reviews.
The Secretary directed the DG Rural Sanitation to undertake bi-weekly reviews of SBM-G asset progress, while ADDCs were instructed to continuously monitor implementation in their respective districts. He identified land availability and timely initiation of works as the two most critical factors requiring focused attention. District Commissioners were asked to intervene wherever land issues persist, while Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers were directed to resolve DPR-related issues on priority and ensure time-bound execution.
Stressing that sanitation infrastructure must translate into functional service delivery, the meeting also reviewed progress under Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) for 2025–26. The Secretary directed that geo-tagging be completed on priority and long-pending IHHL cases be cleared within fixed timelines, cautioning that delays adversely impact ODF sustainability and beneficiary confidence.
Under the GOBARdhan initiative, 18 biogas plants are planned across the Union Territory. Secretary emphasised that GOBARdhan projects and FSTPs are central to sustainable waste management and circular economy objectives, and directed officers to expedite tendering, address contractor response issues and ensure convergence with other schemes.
The status of Operations & Maintenance (O&M) and Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) policies was also reviewed. Draft policies, prepared after public consultation and incorporating inputs from the Environment Committee of the J&K Legislative Assembly, have been submitted for legal vetting and are currently under examination by the Law Department. The Secretary stressed that finalisation of these policies is essential for long-term sustainability of SBM-G assets.
Discussions were also initiated on the AIP 2026–27, with emphasis on realistic planning, prioritisation of incomplete works and greater focus on large waste-management infrastructure. Calling for a results-oriented approach, Secretary Asad directed officers to move beyond target-centric implementation and focus on timely completion, functionality and effective utilisation of sanitation assets to sustain gains achieved under SBM-G in rural Jammu and Kashmir.
He further directed ADDCs to personally supervise unresolved land issues, review cases where land matters have already been settled, and conduct district-wise SBM reviews on the 10th of every month.
During the meeting, the DG Rural Sanitation presented a comprehensive progress report on SBM-G assets, including community sanitary complexes, plastic waste management units, greywater systems, DEWATS, soak pits and GOBARdhan plants across the Union Territory.
