Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: Governor N N Vohra reviewed the progress of implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission in a meeting held at Civil Secretariat today. Besides all concerned Administrative Secretaries and other senior officers the meeting was attended by Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, Advisor to Governor, B. R. Sharma, Chief Secretary, B. B. Vyas, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department.
The Governor was informed that in urban areas, the Government of India provides an incentive of Rs.4000 per individual household toilet and Rs.12000 per toilet in the rural areas with the objective to ensure that there is no open defecation. The Swachh Bharat Mission also envisages establishment of community toilets for which central assistance to the tune 40% of the estimated cost of Rs.65,000 i.e. Rs.26,000 per seat is available as a grant in the urban areas. In the rural areas, the grant is made available at Rs.2 lakh per Community Sanitary Complex.
It was informed that 36 Community Toilets have been constructed in the urban areas so far. The Mission also envisages establishment of solid waste management projects. The Urban Development Department has adopted cluster based approach by dividing the State into 14 clusters, excluding the two capital cities. DPRs have already been prepared for 6 clusters, along with those for the Capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu, while the same are under preparation for the remaining clusters.
The Governor expressed serious concern over the very low pace of implementation of this vital programme, particularly in the urban areas. He directed the Chief Secretary that the survey to identify individual households which do not have toilets must be completed by 9th March, 2016 in all the urban areas. He also stressed the need for mobilizing support by accessing institutional help from major Industrial Houses, Universities, Chambers of Commerce, Banks, and Central Public Sector Undertakings working in the State. The Governor also directed that the Chief Architect should prepare appropriate architectural designs and lay out for the development of community house hold toilets which are harmonious with the environment.
The Governor directed the Chief Secretary to hold separate meetings in respect ofJammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations with all concerned stakeholders before 15th March for establishing Community Toilets. He also directed that wayside amenities should be established at identified sites by NHAI, on all National Highways, and these should include Public Toilets.
The Governor also directed the Chief Secretary to set up a small Task Force, comprising scientific members, for identifying suitable locations for Land Fills in all the towns of the State. This Task Force should submit its recommendations by 31st March. He also directed the Chief Secretary to seek involvement of reputed NGOs and Corporate Houses for Information Education Communication /capacity building activities.
As regards progress under rural sanitation, the Governor was informed that one Block and 249 villages have been made Open Defecation Free during 2015-16 and 71630 individual house hold toilets and 167 community sanitary complexes have been established by end of January, 2016.
The Governor was informed that 15,987 toilets have been constructed in schools under the programme. The Governor directed that all the Anganwari Centers and other public institutions located in rural areas should be given priority for coverage under Swachh Bharat Mission. The Governor directed all the departments and organizations to work wholeheartedly to make this programme a high success in the State and directed the Chief Secretary to submit to him fortnightly progress reports on the implementation of every flagship scheme.
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