Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 29: The Director General (DG) Rural Sanitation, Jammu and Kashmir Anoo Malhotra conducted an extensive tour of South Kashmir to assess the functionality of assets under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBMG). The tour aimed to evaluate the progress of rural sanitation initiatives and to identify areas for improvement in south Kashmir’s Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag districts.
The DG visited several locations across South Kashmir to review the implementation of SBMG assets, including CSCs, waste management units, community soak pits and other sanitation facilities. The assessment focused on the effectiveness of these assets in promoting cleanliness and hygiene.
In Kakapora block of Pulwama district, she appreciated the ecosystem which was created in the established PWMU and directed BDOs and officers of other districts to visit this unit and develop the PWMUs on same pattern. She also directed the officers to explore the business model options for organic manure being produced in the PWMU from household waste at Kakapora.
In Shopian, Malhotra visited the CSCs, PWMUs and Community Soak Pits constructed in different panchayats of Shopian district. At Government Higher Secondary School, Narpora Shopian she advised the school administration to develop a “Swachhata Bank” with the help of Rural Sanitation officials and reward the people for depositing plastic waste there.
In block Keller of the district Kulgam, the expert team of Project Management Unit (PMU) headed by Sumit Mehta visited the site identified for construction of Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) for scientific disposal of Faecal matter.
In Kulgam district, Malhotra inaugurated the PWMU at Panchayat Ashmuji block Qaimoh. In addition to assessing SBMG assets, the DG also inaugurated a public park developed on Community Soak Pit in panchayat Warpora block Qaimoh. The area was earlier a legacy waste site. The park is expected to provide a recreational space for the local community and contribute to the overall beautification of the area.
While concluding the two days tour to south Kashmir, she visited the several sites in Anantnag district where she assessed the functionality status of assets created under SBM-G. She directed the officers to explore the business model of waste generated for the sustenance of the mission and further directed the ACPs and engineers to consult for technical interventions through the Project Management Unit deployed by Directorate of Rural Sanitation before undergoing construction of any assets.
Other officials who were part of this tour include Deputy Director Rural Sanitation, Kashmir, ACD Kulgam, ACP Pulwama, ACP Shopian, ACP Anantnag, BDOs of concerned districts, Engineers of Rural Engineering Wing, and Panchayat Secretaries.
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