Jammu, Nov 06: Commissioner Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department (HUDD), Mandeep Kaur on Friday chaired a meeting of the High-Level Multi-Departmental Task Force on Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Utilization under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, to review the challenges faced by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Jammu and Kashmir regarding scientific disposal and utilization of RDF generated at waste processing facilities, besides addressing issues related to the bioremediation of legacy waste.
The meeting was attended by Chairman, CPCB, J&K; Member Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC); Mission Director, SBM (U)-2.0, J&K; Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC); Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu; and Director Planning, Industries & Commerce Department, J&K, besides other concerned officials.
During the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary emphasised on the need for coordinated and time-bound action on the matter. She directed all concerned departments to ensure strict compliance with the directions issued in view of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s observations and compliance requirements in case CA No. 6174/2023 concerning implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.
The Commissioner Secretary stressed on the need for exploring all possible avenues for the scientific disposal and productive utilization of RDF generated by ULBs across J&K. She asked the members of the Task Force to actively identify and engage potential industrial units within the Union Territory that could utilize RDF as an alternative fuel.
The Commissioner Secretary also directed the Industries and Commerce department to provide a comprehensive list of cement industries and paper mills operating in the Union Territory to facilitate their participation in the Expression of Interest (EOI), which will be floated afresh by the Mission Directorate, SBM (U)-2.0, for identification of suitable RDF utilization partners.
She also directed the Urban Local Bodies to expedite the implementation of on-site waste segregation and ensure effective segregation of waste at source. She observed that the upcoming Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) projects would further strengthen the waste processing ecosystem and facilitate the production of quality RDF through improved segregation practices.
During the meeting, Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0, J&K, Ayushi Sudan, apprised the meeting about the action taken on the decisions and directions issued during the first meeting of the Task Force.
Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), J&K, Vasu Dev Yadav, informed the meeting about the status of registration of Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) on the CPCB portal and highlighted the progress made in this regard.
During the deliberations, Waseem Trumboo of M/s Trumboo Cement Industries, J&K, an external member of the Task Force, assured the Commissioner Secretary of his industry’s willingness to utilize RDF generated by the Urban Local Bodies of J&K.
He informed the meeting that the industry is adopting German technology and developing a facility with an RDF intake capacity of 1,000 tonnes per day. The proposed facility, he said, would have the potential to cater to RDF requirements not only of Jammu and Kashmir but also of other States and Union Territories.
Pertinently, with the Government’s consistent efforts and proposed initiatives as well as active participation of the industrial sector, Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards achieving 100 percent scientific disposal and utilization of RDF generated by its Urban Local Bodies.
