Arvind Sharma
Jammu Tawi: Amid Covid-19 pandemic, when cleanliness, sanitation and awareness of general masses are of utmost importance, various programmes formulated by the Government of India (GoI) under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) have almost come to a standstill in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) since the last around nine (9) months, official sources informed.
“Since December 2020, various activities and programmes, as per the laid down guidelines under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), have not been carried out in J&K due to various reasons,” sources informed the Northlines wishing not to be named.
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) committees have been constituted in both Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to carry out and undertake various programmes and activities formulated by the central government under its ambitious scheme.
As per the laid down guidelines under Swachh Bharat Mission, the JMC and the SMC have to undertake different awareness programmes for cleanliness drives in the wards falling in their jurisdiction by involving Non-Government Organizations, schools, colleges and civil society groups, beautify the areas/parks through different ways, improve lanes and drains, improve sewerage system, put in place a Solid Waste Management system besides carrying out other activities to aware the general masses regarding cleanliness, sources informed.
Importantly, apart from this, constructing bathrooms and Sulabh Shouchalayas are also part of Swachh Bharat Mission, they informed.
“The work on Rs 100 Cr Solid Waste Management system has just been started and except that no other major activity under Swachh Bharat Mission has been carried out since the last around nine months,” they informed.
“You can say that no activity under Swachh Bharat Mission has been carried out since January this year,” Chairman, Swachh Bharat Mission Committee, JMC, Yashpaul told the Northlines, when contacted.
“Moreover, the JMC has also not been provided funds for carrying out different programmes and activities under Swachh Bharat Mission,” he said.
Just now, we have started awareness programmes against polythene usage in different areas of Jammu city, he said.
Pertinently, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address on Independence Day in 2014 and was rolled out on October 02 in 2014.
