Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 22: After qualifying for the Government of India’s City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0) program, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today said that it is working towards managing waste scientifically at its Achan dumping site.
In this regard, the Commissioner of SMC, Dr. Owais Ahmad, told reporters that under CITIIS 2.0, there is a provision for funding up to Rs 200 crores from the Government to promote a circular economy with a focus on integrated waste management.
“We are making efforts to manage the waste at the Achan dumping site scientifically, we are also working under CITIIS 2.0 in this regard, apart from taking several other steps,” he said.
Under the program, which will last for 4 years, CITIIS 2.0 has three major components, including financial and technical support for up to 18 Smart Cities for projects promoting a circular economy with a focus on Integrated Waste Management.
The Commissioner also mentioned that to dispose of the 11 lakh metric tons of waste at the dumping site, they have floated tenders for bioremediation and in due course, additional units will be established there. Click here to watch video
“We have also worked hard for bioremediation; tenders have been floated. In due time, the rest of the units will also be established so that waste is disposed of scientifically and the issue of waste management is resolved,” he said.
Regarding the under-construction Balidan Stambh in Pratap Park, the Commissioner said that work is in the final stage and will be completed soon.
“The work is progressing at a good pace. The project started in January and is now in the final stage. Although the work was halted due to rains, the overall pace has been good. In the next 10-20 days, the work will be completed,” he said.
Furthermore, he mentioned that under the Srinagar Smart City project, various works that used to be carried out separately by different departments have been taken up comprehensively, reducing the time these projects would have taken otherwise.
“The works carried out under the Smart City initiative used to take time, but now, we have taken these works comprehensively. The work of 4 to 5 years was completed in just one year,” he said.
Regarding people parking their vehicles on the footpaths and some riding two-wheelers on the footpaths, the Commissioner stated that the SMC can take strict action against the violators.
He urged people to take due care as these properties belong to them. “We have seen people parking their vehicles on the under-construction footpaths, causing damage. In this regard, traffic police are also taking action,” he said.
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