BARAMULLA, AUGUST 06: Director General, Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra today chaired a high-level review meeting in Baramulla to assess the progress of key initiatives under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) and review the implementation of rural sanitation projects across the district.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Director, Rural Sanitation, Kashmir, Shabir Ahmad Hakak, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat (ACP), Baramulla, Mudasir Hussain, Block Development Officers (BDOs) of all blocks of the district, Assistant Engineers, Junior Engineers, consultants of the Directorate, and other concerned officers.
The review focused on the status of rural sanitation assets, door-to-door waste collection services, tendering of sanitation infrastructure, operation and maintenance of existing assets, and other SBM(G)-related interventions being implemented across the district.
During the meeting, the Director General conducted a detailed block-wise review of ongoing projects and directed all BDOs to expedite the implementation of sanctioned works.
She emphasized that the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) remains a priority programme and called upon the field functionaries to ensure timely and quality execution of all projects.
Stressing the importance of efficient service delivery and sustainable sanitation systems, Anoo Malhotra directed the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Baramulla, to closely monitor the progress of works and ensure their completion within the stipulated timelines.
“Work towards making picturesque Gulmarg a no plastic zone,” she directed to ACP Baramulla.
She also underscored the need to strengthen door-to-door waste collection services and make sanitation assets, including Plastic Waste Management Units, Segregation Sheds, and other solid and liquid waste management infrastructure, fully functional for the benefit of rural communities.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to achieving sustainable rural sanitation, the Director General said that effective planning, regular monitoring, inter-departmental coordination, and timely execution at the block level are crucial to realizing the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) and ensuring cleaner, healthier, and more resilient villages across Baramulla district.
Later, a detailed technical session on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026.
The session focused on the principle of buy-back responsibility, highlighting the obligation of Producers, Importers and Brand Owners (PIBOs) to establish effective mechanisms for the collection, channelization, recycling and environmentally sound disposal of post-consumer waste generated from their products and packaging.
