Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today convened a meeting to review preparedness of nationwide sanitation campaign ‘Swatchhta Hi Sewa’ which is starting from September 15 to October 02, 2017 in all rural and urban areas of the Valley.Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Principal GMC, Director SKIMS, VC LAWDA, VC SDA, Chief Engineer PHE, Joint Commissioner SMC, Deputy Director Planning, Deputy Director Local Bodies, Assistant Director Health, DSP Traffic and other concerned officers were present in the meeting, whereas Deputy Commissioners of Valley districts including Leh and Kargil participated in the meeting through video conferencing.The meeting was briefed that the aim of the campaign is to reinforce the concept of 'sanitation is everyone's business', re-energize Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and to intensify focus on cleanliness and create an environment of cleanliness across in the spirit of a mass participation.The Deputy Commissioners and the concerned officers informed the meeting about their preparedness and activities of the said campaign in their respective districts.The Divisional Commissioner stressed upon involving locals, students, sarpanchs and other representatives of the society in this 18-day campaign that will culminate on Gandhi Jayanti.He directed to start sanitation at district and state level including at offices, hospitals, schools, aganwardi centers, parks, bus stops, road sides, water bodies, community toilets and other public places like agricultural mandies and markets. He said that special focus should be laid on cleaning iconic and tourist places so that these places present new look which is the main aim of the campaign. All the Departments were also directed to clean their office premises and surroundings, besides areas falling under their jurisdiction.
To create awareness about the said campaign, the Div Com asked the concerned to ply ‘Swachta Express’ vehicle in every nook and corner in the valley to disseminate information on a larger level. He also called for organizing seminars, rallies, debates, painting and sports competitions in every district regarding the cleanliness campaign.Khan directed SMC to kick start the sanitation drive from tomorrow from secretariat, hospitals, shrines and educational institutes in the city. It was said that SMC will also make suitable arrangements for the disposal of the waste and garbage collected during the sanitation drive. LAWDA will start intense de-weeding drive in the Dal Lake and other water bodies. Irrigation & Flood Control will clear the embankments along River Jhelum from Pantha Chowk to Chattabal Ver.He also directed the Deputy Commissioners to closely monitor all activities under nationwide sanitation campaign in their respective districts. They were asked to highlight the activities under the campaign in print and electronic media for wider dissemination.The Divisional Commissioner asked all the concerned departments to work in close coordination so that this campaign becomes a great success in the entire valley as well as in Leh and Kargil districts.