Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 25: The construction work on nearly 10 waste treatment plants that are being built in different parts of the Valley under the flagship Swachh Bharat Mission has slowed down due to delayed funding.
These waste treatment plants, which were being established in 10 Urban Local Bodies (ULBS) across the Valley, were part of Jammu and Kashmir’s long-overdue transition to effective garbage management and addressing serious environmental issues resulting from improper municipal waste management. However, a delay in funding has hindered the completion of these facilities.
The establishment of these waste treatment plants is part of the Action Plan for the Establishment of Solid Waste Management in the 40 ULBs of the Kashmir Division. The Government approved this plan on October 17, 2022, allocating a budget of Rs. 239.74 crores to manage the total waste generation of 456 metric tons per day.
“Around 10 to 12 treatment plants have already been established in various locations and are functional. Ten more were expected to be completed by September this year. However, given the current progress, it appears they may not be completed until March next year,” an official at Urban Local Bodies told the Excelsior.
In June this year, the administration commenced construction on 10 additional waste treatment plants in Awantipora, Kulgam, Pattan, Khrew, Tral, Yaripora, Frisal and Hygam. Each of these plants will have the capacity to process 40 tons of waste per day.
In May this year, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, inaugurated nine solid waste management facilities. These facilities, which came up at a cost of total of Rs. 12.79 crore, have been completed in the ULBs of Achabal, Beerwah, Chadoora, Dooru-Verinag, Ganderbal, Qazigund, Shopian, Sumbal and Tangmarg/Kunzer. Each of these plants is capable of processing 40 tons of waste per day.
Furthermore, each facility features a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for dry waste, including segregation of mixed waste, baling and shredding facilities.
While admitting the delayed completion of these projects, Director of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Mathoora Masoon, told Excelsior that work on all the projects is progressing smoothly. “We have been promised that the pending funds will be released, and we will finish the projects soon,” she said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
