Srinagar, Oct 31 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Housing and Urban Development Department has prepared an action plan worth Rs 795.72 crore to ensure the scientific disposal of solid and liquid waste in urban areas across the Union Territory.
The plan, formulated under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), aims to improve sanitation, protect the environment, and maintain cleanliness in major towns and tourist destinations, including Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
According to official data, 78 Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) have been approved for processing dry waste, with 49 already completed. Work on the remaining facilities is in progress. For wet waste management, 77 sites have been cleared, and processing work is underway in 63 locations.
Two compressed biogas (CBG) projects have been approved for Jammu Municipal Corporation and Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Both projects are under progress and have been vetted by the NTPC.
Bioremediation of 28.01 lakh metric tons of legacy waste has been sanctioned. Of this, 6.67 lakh metric tons have already been treated, and work on the remaining 19.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel06 lakh metric tons is ongoing.
Under the sanitation component, the government has approved 51 Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs), 868 public toilet seats, 595 community toilet seats, 124 urinals, and 375 aspirational toilets. Several of these are under construction.
For liquid waste management, two Project Development and Management Consultants (PDMCs) have been engaged to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and execute works for sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the UT. DPRs worth Rs 227.73 crore have been framed for 15 Urban Local Bodies and are under examination.
Officials said a cluster approach is being adopted for septage collection from small towns for treatment at nearby large STPs. Six such projects, including those at Chuntkul STP and Doodhganga I and II, are currently being implemented.
The department said the comprehensive plan is designed to ensure sustainable waste management and improve the quality of life in Jammu and Kashmir’s urban areas.(KNS)