“VAN” (Dar Rafi – Ganderbal, Srinagar) :: District Development Commissioner Ganderbal, Hashmat Ali Khan today chaired a meeting to review the progress and all potential solutions of Solid Waste Management in the district.

During the meeting the DDC inquired from concerned officials about the measures taken in this regard and gave certain suggestions for solid waste management on scientific lines.

The education department informed that sanitation drives were conducted in all the schools of the district as per the schedule framed earlier. The DDC directed the Dy CEO to carry similar sanitation cum awareness drives in the habitation areas including market places in collaboration with Degree Colleges and Polytechnic College besides generate awareness among the people by way of delivering lectures on the subject and holding play cards carry message about the importance of segregation of solid waste from the source.

The existing gaps in the functioning and future plans of scientific disposal of solid waste management were also discussed threadbare in the meeting.

To sensitize the people about the solid waste management and ill effects of polythene at village level, the DDC stressed on the concerned officers to create mass awareness at Panchayat level by involving Panches/Surpanches, Aanganwadi workers and local people besides holding seminars, Quiz Competitions in every School of Panchayats across the district.

Municipal Committee Ganderbal was asked to chalk out sanitation drive calendar covering all municipal blocks of the district besides install more dustbins at the appropriate places in the town.

CEO Sonamarg Development Authority and CEO Manasbal Development Authority were directed to start intensifying sanitation drives in their respective jurisdictions involving other departments like Forest, I&FC, Wildlife, hoteliers, shikara owners, vendors and shopkeepers.

Similarly, I&FC department was directed to carry sanitation cum awareness drive along the river Sindh and its adjoining tributaries.

DDC urged for coordination among all the officers and asked for framing calendar for carrying such sanitation cum awareness drives throughout the district.

In the meeting it was decided that massive sanitation cum awareness drive shall be conducted from Sonamarg to Baltal base camp on 30th July for which necessary arrangements were also discussed.

Among others, the meeting was attended by ADC Showkat Ahmad, ACD Mohammad Ashraf, ACR Nisar Ahamd Malik, Tehsildars, DPO and other concerned officers.