‘28 lakh MTs of legacy waste to be treated across J&K’
Srinagar, Oct 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Housing and Urban Development Department has approved an Action Plan worth Rs 795.72 crore for the scientific disposal of solid and liquid waste in urban areas.
The plan, formulated under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), aims to ensure proper waste processing, protect the environment and maintain cleanliness.
The document, accessed by news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), states that the Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for dry waste processing have been approved at 78 sites, with 49 already sanctioned. For wet waste, 77 composting sites have been approved, while work on 50 has already started.
Two sites, one each under the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations, have been approved for the processing of wet waste. In addition, bioremediation of 28.01 lakh metric tons of legacy waste has been sanctioned, with over 6.67 lakh metric tons already completed.
For sanitation improvement, 51 individual household toilets, 868 public toilets, 595 community toilet seats, 124 urinal seats and 375 aspirational toilet seats have been approved. Many of these are under construction.
Under the Used Water Management component, DPRs have been framed for 15 Urban Local Bodies worth Rs 227.73 crore.
The plan also includes cluster-based septage treatment for small towns at larger treatment plants, including Chunt-Kul STP, Doodhganga I & II, Samba, Katra, Charar-i-Sharief and Baramulla STPs, all at different implementation stages.
Door-to-door collection of solid waste is ongoing across all ULBs to ensure cleanliness, with emphasis on source segregation through public awareness drives.
In tourist towns, the Municipal Committee Pahalgam collects and lifts waste, which is treated at the Solid Waste Management Plant operated by the Pahalgam Development Authority at Sarbal. However, officials said the Pahalgam area still lacks a suitable site for its own MRF or SWM plant.
Similarly, the Municipal Committee Gulmarg and Tangmarg manage waste collection and disposal through the SWM Plant at Kunzer. The department added that Pahalgam’s 2 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant is currently functional under the liquid waste management component.
Officials said coordination with district administrations is ongoing to identify and transfer more suitable sites to strengthen waste management systems across Jammu and Kashmir. (KNO)
