SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 28: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Ramesh Kumar, on Wednesday directed officers to intensify field inspections, expedite pending works and ensure visible improvements in sanitation infrastructure and waste management across Kashmir Division while reviewing the district-wise performance of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G).
Chairing a comprehensive review meeting, the Secretary assessed the progress of key sanitation and waste management infrastructure, including Community Sanitary Complexes, Community Compost Pits, Community Soak Pits, Segregation Sheds, Plastic Waste Management Units, Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS), Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) and GOBARdhan biogas plants.
The meeting was attended by Director Finance Umar Khan, Joint Director Planning Kamal Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director Rural Sanitation, Kashmir, Shabir Ahmed Hakak, besides Assistant Commissioners Panchayats and Executive Engineers of Rural Engineering Wing (REW) from across Kashmir Division.
Reviewing district-wise progress, Kumar emphasised that the creation of infrastructure alone was not sufficient, stressing that every asset must be functional, accessible and deliver its intended benefits to rural communities.
He called for a shift towards outcome-oriented implementation, stronger monitoring and tangible improvements on the ground.
Taking stock of the status of Community Sanitary Complexes, the Secretary questioned the delays in initiating targeted works, observing that preparatory activities, including identification of suitable land and completion of tendering formalities, should have been undertaken well in advance, as the targets were linked to the financial year.
While officers cited land-related issues and the need to identify alternative sites as major challenges, Kumar stressed that such constraints must be identified and addressed at the planning stage rather than being cited subsequently as reasons for delays.
The Secretary underscored the need for sound financial planning, timely submission of proposals and completion of all prescribed formalities to ensure the effective release and utilisation of funds. He observed that delays in implementation could not be attributed solely to the Government or the availability of funds, emphasising that district-level officers must fulfil their responsibilities by ensuring timely proposals, adherence to procedures and continuous monitoring of works.
He also sought a detailed account of works for which funds had been allocated, those taken up for execution and projects completed so far, directing officers to ensure accountability at every stage of implementation.
Calling for greater dedication and efficiency, Kumar said public resources must translate into functional sanitation infrastructure, cleaner villages and improved services for rural communities. He directed officers to undertake regular and purposeful field visits to assess the functionality of sanitation facilities, identify deficiencies and ensure their timely rectification.
The Secretary further directed that operational issues relating to vehicles, faecal sludge treatment infrastructure, electrical components and other essential requirements be resolved in coordination with the concerned departments. He also stressed the need to constitute dedicated teams wherever required to address bottlenecks and ensure the smooth functioning of sanitation facilities.
The review also highlighted challenges in identifying suitable land for key sanitation infrastructure, particularly FSTPs, DEWATS and GOBARdhan biogas plants. Limited capacity-building support, inadequate technical training and the absence of dedicated personnel at district, block and Gram Panchayat levels were also identified as constraints affecting effective implementation and monitoring.
The Secretary stressed the need to address these gaps through better coordination, improved technical support and strengthened monitoring mechanisms to ensure timely completion of works and sustainable delivery of sanitation services across rural Kashmir.
