* State to be declared ODF by Sept 15
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 21: Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India, Parameswaran Iyer and Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam today co-chaired a video conference with Deputy Commissioners to review the progress achieved under the SBM (G) Programme.
Parameswaran Iyer lauded the efforts of Governor’s Administration for the remarkable turnaround in reaching close to 99% sanitation coverage from 50% in the month of February, 2018. Also, the ODF verification which was at 5% in July 2018 is now at 50%.
Director General (Special Project), Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India, Akshay Kumar Rout, Secretary, PHE Department, Secretary, RDD and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Iyer observed that while across the country, sanitation coverage has reached 92%, it is due to the strenuous efforts of the Governor’s Administration in particularly DCs under the illustrious leadership of Governor, Advisors and Chief Secretary that in J&K sanitation coverage has reached close to 99%.
He informed that the programme is being monitored by the Prime Minister, who is impressed by the phenomenal progress made by J&K in the last couple of months.
Having reached 99% sanitation coverage and poised to achieve 100% progress in the next couple of weeks, Iyer urged the State Government to now shift focus on achieving 100% ODF verification, which should be completed by September 15, 2018 and geo-tagging and hiring of Swachigarhis. He said J&K will become eligible for next installment of funds after 100% ODF verification is completed.
Chief Secretary reassured that State Government will redouble its efforts towards successful implementation of the SBM (G) programme. He said 12 districts have already achieved ODF status and in the remaining 10 Districts, sanitation coverage is over 95%.
While setting a dead line of September 15, 2018 for all districts to be declared and verified as ODF, Chief Secretary asked DCs to ensure that ODF verification and geo-tagging process is completed by all districts within the same deadline. He also directed for hiring 50 Swachigarhis in each district besides promoting cleanliness and hygiene through effective and sustained public information campaigns.
Status of drinking and ground water in the State also came up for discussion during the meeting. Iyer assured that Government of India will provide required support to the J&K Government in projects aimed at harnessing ground water and augmenting drinking water facility and also support any proposal for externally aided project.
In this regard, Chief Secretary asked Secretary, PHE and I&FC Department to immediately start working on the project proposal(s) and submit the same in the next couple of months.
Meanwhile, Parameswaran Iyer met Governor N.N. Vohra at the Civil Secretariat.
Iyer briefed Governor about the schemes and allocations of his Ministry for augmentation of drinking water infrastructure and sanitation in J&K; the to-date status of various initiatives being taken for Katra Vaishno Devi project under the Swachh Iconic Places Scheme. He informed that implementation of the Katra scheme is being reviewed regularly basis to ensure its timely completion.
Governor and Iyer discussed various programmes underway in the State under the Swachh Bharat Mission and to the date status of the recently launched ‘Swachh Survekshan’ in rural areas of the State.
Later, Union Secretary visited Kupwara and reviewed performance of Aspirational District Scheme of the Government of India.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, BVR Subramanyam, Secretary to Government PHE & I&FC Department, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Special DG Projects, Director Rural Sanitation, ADDC Kupwara, SE Hydraulic, Handwara/Kupwara, JD Planning Kupwara, Imtiyaz Ahmad, Exen PHE Division Kupwara and Handwara, District Information Officer Kupwara, ACD & ACR Kupwara.
The District Development Commissioner made a detailed presentation in which he highlighted the overall progress achieved under the Scheme. He informed the meeting that district Kupwara had already achieved ODF status by constructing 98782 toilet complexes.
The Union Secretary announced Rs 50 crore for uncovered habitations, Rs 3 crore for Water Testing Lab, and assured financial assistance for regional Water supply schemes and revamping of filtration plants. He directed concerned to submit DPRs regarding four regional Water Supply Schemes as soon as possible.
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