Governor N. N. Vohra reviewed issues relating to sanitation and solid waste management in a meeting with Shri B.R. Sharma, Chief Secretary and Shri B.B. Vyas, Financial Commissioner (Planning & Development Department) held at the Raj Bhavan today.Expressing serious concern over the obtaining status of sanitation management in key urban locations, he called for taking up wide ranging initiatives to systematically implement the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan across the state. The Governor directed Shri Vyas, Financial Commissioner Planning & Development Department to issue immediate instructions to the two Divisional Commissioners and all Deputy Commissioners in the State to ensure sanitation and cleanliness in all offices and public places in the towns and cities. He also directed that the Commissioners of the two Municipal Corporations and Administrators of all the Municipalities should be tasked to ensure daily collection and removal of garbage and be sure that there are no muck heaps lying anywhere along the roads.
The Governor also directed the Chief Secretary to issue directions to ensure that adequate police help, protection and support is provided by dedicated police units which, one each, should be kept at the disposal of urban agencies in both Jammu and Srinagar cities. These units shall assist the urban administration agencies to bring about a qualitative improvement in effectively carrying out their enforcement functions, without any excuse whatsoever about hindered in doing so. These units will function under clearly specified Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to assist the urban administration agencies in the two cities in very close co-ordination with the local police stations. These dedicated units will help the municipal bodies in efficiently carrying out their enforcement tasks on daily basis, without any fail.
Later, under the directions of Governor, Financial Commissioner (Planning and Development) held a meeting with the Municipal Officials of Srinagar and Jammu to streamline the arrangements regarding sanitation management in both the cities. Commissioner Housing and Urban Development, Commissioner SMC, Officers of JMC and Local Bodies participated in the meeting.After the aforesaid meeting, Mr. Vyas informed the Governor that the SMC, which has already started cleaning the river banks in Srinagar, has been directed to continue this drive for two weeks and ensure that the river banks are cleared of muck and all other solid wastes. SMC will ensure that the accumulated wastes are cleared within two days and the collection of daily waste is continued efficiently. SMC will especially focus on the roads leading to Airport and Bus stands as these are frequented by public and ensure that no muck/ garbage heaps are allowed to accumulate anywhere.
The Governor was informed that the JMC officials have been directed to focus sharply on the roads leading to Airport, Bus Stand and Railway Station and ensure that an efficient cleaning protocol is in place for these areas which are intensively frequented by the public. They were also directed that the solid wastes which are being thrown in the nallahs should be cleaned up by carrying out a special drive during 22-31 March 2016. The JMC officials were also directed to clear the illegal encroachments of pedestrian paths by rehris and food joints as they lead to development of heaps of muck and collection of garbage on the high footfall roads and markets.As regards the smaller towns and cities where the collection efficiency is not up to the mark, the Local Body officials were directed to ensure that the collection of solid waste is carried out effectively on a daily basis. They were also directed to focus on those areas in their towns which are frequented by public to ensure that no heaps of garbage and muck accumulate.The Governor was also informed that the Housing and Urban Development Department will issue clear cut directions to all Municipal Bodies to develop efficient collection and disposal mechanisms for solid waste management. They will be submitting a daily report about collection and disposal of solid wastes through their Directorates to the Administrative Department for regular monitoring. The Financial Commissioner will send reports to the Governor who intends to personally visit various parts of both the capital cities, along with Shri Vyas and other officers, to see the work being done to improve cleanliness and sanitation.