SRINAGAR, September 3: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today directed the Housing and Urban Development officials to submit recommendations within one month for choosing the best workable model for solid waste management.
The Chief Minister asked the Administrative Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department to examine the proposals and submit recommendations within a month for selecting the best workable model, which fits within the state's available budgetary resources.
"We need to render better services in solid waste management, which is one of the basic essential services provided to the people to keep our environs clean," Sayeed said.
The Chief Minister gave the directions after a presentation on solid waste management, made by a Slovenian firm IME-Insol, which has executed several European Union projects in Austria, Germany, Croatia and Italy.
Putting his weight firmly behind framing policies that promote cleaner and healthier environment, the Chief Minister called for pressing the accelerator on adopting best practices in tackling the ever-growing problem of solid waste management.
Placing high priority on improving J&K's rank on cleanliness index, Sayeed said the Government has shown abundant resolve to replace the unscientific and outdated systems with a technology that can handle segregated and un-segregated solid waste better, without causing harm to environment and ecology.
"Our state needs a credible breakthrough in waste management by using best-available technology that scientifically disposes off garbage," he said.
To begin with, he said the two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu and health resorts of Gulmarg, Patnitop and Pahalgam will start using the selected technology in solid waste management.
"Once implemented successfully, the models will be replicated in other parts of the state in a phased manner," he added.
Emphasising upon strengthening municipal laws governing urban local bodies to effectively deal with growing problem of waste disposal, the Chief Minister said due to rapid and haphazard urbanisation, the state needs to thwart the potential threat which is staring our environment in the face.
He said a beginning has to be made in adopting models that would hardly have any impact on existing human habitations.
"Futuristically, we can also think of trading in waste for generating income on investment," he said referring to the high-cost models that not only segregate and recycle waste, but also produce high-on-demand biogas and products with higher added value.
The Chief Minister observed that Jammu and Kashmir needs a 'perspective plan' for building capacities to recycle majority of its solid waste for production of biogas and bio-fuel.
"The remaining waste will then require minimal use of land for dumping purposes," he added.
