Director Rural Sanitation conducts extensive tour of Kathua district

Takes first hand appraisal of rural sanitation works, lays foundation stone of Panchayat Ghar Trehara, PWM Unit at Hamirpur

KATHUA, September 13: Director Rural Sanitation, J&K Charandeep Singh today chaired a meeting of concerned office here in the Conference Hall, DC Office and conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing works undertaken under Swach Bharat Mission (G) Phase- II in Kathua District.

ADDC, Ankur Mahajan; ACD, Kishore Singh Katoch; ACP, Danish Mir Rasool; XEN, REW Kathua besides BDOs and technical and non-technical staff members of district  attended the meeting.

The Director discussed in length the headway achieved in setting up rural sanitation assets in the district, besides laying focus on timely completion of segregation sheds, wall painting works as per GOI guidelines, adoption of prescribed methods of waste collection, efficient plastic waste management and adopting of strategies for effective greywater management. He also passed directions for procurement of Waste Collection Vehicles for its proper transportation.

The Director also gave instructions to popularize IHHL Citizen Registration Portal through newspapers, gram sabhas and office circulars so that common citizens to take benefit from the same.

The Director also put forward a unique and innovative idea of having small shredders and baler machines in SWM sheds so that waste could be processed at its origin which will also save the transportation costs.

Clear directives were issued by Director Rural Sanitation to ensure that all bills are settled within the specified timeframe and that measures shall be taken to mitigate any potential future liabilities.

Charandeep Singh emphasized that all the officers and officials of RDD department have to play a pro active role in maintaining the ODF Plus Model status of their respective villages. He further said that the gram panchayats are the true owners of all rural sanitation assets and policies should be implemented to promote active anticipation of gram panchayats.

The Director Rural Sanitation also laid the foundation stone for construction of Panchayat Ghar Trehara. The ceremony was attended by RDD Officer/Officials, PRI members, and general public of the Panchayat.

While addressing the gathering, Director said the construction of Panchayat Ghar marks a significant step towards capacitating local governance units besides giving a central point to the Panchayat to orgainse its functioning.

Charandeep Singh also interacted with the Sarpanches and Panches of Panchayat Boudhi North about raising awareness among the public regarding cleanliness activities and also inquired about the assets like Plastic Waste Management Units, Segregation Sheds, Common Service Centers (CSCs), Individual and Community Soakage Pits, and Compost pits. The Sarpanches and local residents expressed positive feedback regarding these assets and activities conducted under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).

The Director also inspected a Solid Waste Management Shed at Panchayat Panthal and stressed the need of maintating the functionality of SBM-G assets by the local Panchayat.

Later, the Director inspected a community soakage pit at Boudhi North and laid the foundation stone for a Plastic Waste Management Unit at Panchayat Hamir Pur. He also interacted with PRIs and the general public of the Panchayat to gather their input and suggestions.