Swach Bharat Mission empowers ULP with waste treatment plants

As part of the first phase of the Swach Bharat Mission, the administration plans to operate waste treatment units at ten urban local bodies across Kashmir this month. This will mark the beginning of the valley's long-overdue transition to efficient garbage management.

The Urban Local Bodies Department said that the establishment of the waste treatment plants will finally address the valley's long-standing need for effective waste treatment and put an end to the serious environmental issues that were arising from improper waste management.

An official stated, "It was required because none of our urban local bodies had even one treatment facility, making it difficult to manage waste and causing improper treatment which has a negative impact on the environment."

He added that a public-private partnership had been anticipated when similar facilities were initially planned, which was why previous attempts to construct them had failed. But that obstacle has been removed now that the government fully supports the Swachh Bharat Mission initiatives.

Nearly ten urban local bodies, including Ghadoora, Qazigund, Kangan, Shopian, Gandrbal, Achabal, and Dooru Sumbal, are scheduled to open treatment facilities this month, according to Mathoora Masoom, Director of Urban Development Kashmir. The necessary equipment will be delivered prior to January 10 because the necessary infrastructure is in place. However there was a slight delay in starting some facilities due to the unfavourable weather, "she stated.

She stated that all 40 urban local bodies in Kashmir would have waste treatment plants by September 2023, and that ten additional treatment facilities, including those in Char-e-Sharif, Hajin, Mattan, and Kulgam, would be operational by March.

The waste treatment facilities were built as part of the government’s INR 2000 million action plan to manage solid waste in the valley and it aims to stop environmentally harmful waste disposal practices like dumping trash in agricultural lands, forest areas, roadside areas, and freshwater bodies of water.