The Committee on Environment of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today stressed the need for implementing a robust and effective sanitation mechanism in rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Committee made this recommendation during a meeting held at the Legislative Assembly Complex in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami.

Members including Peerzada Mohammad Sayed, Dr. Sajjad Shafi, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad, Khurshied Ahmad, Mushtaq Guroo, Irshad Rasool Kar and Darshan Kumar also participated in the meeting.

The Committee thoroughly examined the inputs and suggestions of members regarding Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) Policy and the Sustainable Sanitation Policy for rural areas of J&K.

During the meeting, the Chairman called for aggressive capacity building and widespread awareness campaigns under the IEC framework across rural areas, with active public participation to achieve tangible results.

He said the Committee would submit its suggestions and recommendations for final sanitation policy to be drafted and approved by the government.

The Chairman also directed the concerned authorities to submit reports on mining operations and plantation drives in the affected areas.

 Emphasizing sustainable sanitation and cleanliness, the Committee underlined the importance of daily door to door garbage collection, segregation and proper disposal, solid and liquid waste management, bio-degradable waste processing and effective scientific treatment of daily-generated plastic waste.

It was decided that meetings and seminars on the importance of implementing sanitation mechanisms would be conducted across various districts.

The Committee also resolved to undertake spot visits to infrastructure sites and facilities to strengthen the environmental safeguards.

Highlighting the importance of the Committee’s role in protecting J&K’s fragile environment, the Chairman instructed the concerned department to involve experts and prepare a yearly action plan for rural sanitation.