Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 3: Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today said that under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) launched in the State on October 2, 2014, various initiatives have been take to make the State garbage free.
Dr Singh disclosed that for this purpose funds to the tune of Rs 39.62 crore have been released by the Centre till date under SBM-Urban.
Responding to a question raised by MLC Surinder Choudhary in the Upper House today, the DyCM said, “As part of SBM initiatives, works are underway to establish Solid Waste Management facilities in all towns. Three districts of Leh, Kargil and Srinagar have been declared ODF under SBM-G while as Leh town has been certified ODF and Gulmarg is in the process of being certified as ODF,” he added.
Listing achievements under the mission, the Deputy CM informed that against a target of 94091 Individual Household Toilets (IHHT)s, 8742 have been constructed and work on 12501 is in progress. He further informed that against the target constructing 2078 seats for Community/Public Toilets (CT/PTs), 1271 have been completed and 695 are under construction.
The Deputy CM informed that Government has targeted to set up Solid Waste Management facility in all urban areas of the State. He said nine projects have been tendered and work on one has been started. He further informed that an amount of Rs 1055.62 lakh have been released to the implementing agencies SMC, JMC, DULBJ and DULBK out of which Rs 176.63 lakh has been incurred on advertisement and publicity of the scheme, he added.
The PDP member pressed that in last three years no much progress has been witnessed on the projects undertaken by his department. He alleged that under CT/PTs component, not even single money was provided by his department to Nowshera, Sunderbani, Thannamani, Basohli, Billawar, Hiranagar, Kathua, Akhnoor, Bishnah, Khour, Samba and even Vijaypur. He alleged discrimination and pointed out that more than Rs 11 crore have been spent on advertisements so far and constituencies are being provided just Rs 2 to 5 lakh. He sought details about the money spent on advertisements and asked why pick and choose policy was being adopted.
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