Srinagar, July 30: Secretary, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Muhammad Aijaz Asad, on Thursday directed all Deputy Commissioners to accelerate the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) by ensuring door-to-door waste collection in every village, adopting cluster-based waste management systems and expediting sanitation infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.

Chairing a high-level review meeting on SBM-G and District Sanitation Plans, the Secretary assessed the physical and financial progress of sanitation projects across the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Rural Development Department, District Development Commissioners, engineers and sanitation officials.
Appreciating the sanitation initiatives of Bandipora and Budgam, Asad said their innovative models could serve as templates for other districts. He advocated a cluster-based approach to solid waste management, enabling adjoining blocks to share resources, machinery and manpower for efficient and sustainable waste disposal.
He directed districts to identify village-level waste collection points, establish secondary collection centres where required and prepare scientific transportation routes. He also urged officials to explore Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Viability Gap Funding (VGF) models to strengthen sanitation infrastructure.
The Secretary instructed all districts to prepare Gram Panchayat-wise inventories of sanitation assets, assign operation and maintenance responsibilities and implement monthly maintenance schedules to ensure long-term functionality.
Emphasising the need for universal door-to-door waste collection, Asad asked officials to map households and commercial establishments, finalise collection routes and develop linkages with recycling industries, cement plants and other authorised agencies for scientific waste processing.
To ensure financial sustainability, he called for the generation of revenue through user charges and the sale of compost, recyclable waste and e-waste. He also stressed the registration of bulk waste generators and greater involvement of Self-Help Groups, NGOs, civil society organisations, religious leaders and Swachhata Champions in sanitation campaigns.
Highlighting that rural sanitation should extend beyond infrastructure creation, Asad said the focus must now shift to the maintenance and sustainability of sanitation assets while encouraging greater community participation.
The meeting was informed that under the Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) 2026-27, a total of 10,083 sanitation assets are planned across Jammu and Kashmir, including compost pits, soak pits, sanitary complexes, segregation sheds, plastic waste management units, faecal sludge treatment plants, DEWATS and GOBARdhan biogas plants. Of these, 5,569 works (55 per cent) have already been tendered.
Reviewing progress under the ODF programme, the Secretary directed districts to complete pending village verifications on priority. He also reviewed the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2025 rankings, where Kulgam emerged as the top-performing district, followed by Samba and Kathua, and urged other districts to improve sanitation outcomes through timely implementation and sustained public participation.