Jammu, Apr 25 : The Union Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Vini Mahajan, held a review meeting in Jammu to discuss the progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, and GOBARdhan scheme. The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Principal Secretary of Jal Shakti, Shaleen Kabra, and the MDs of National Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission, Vikas Sheel and Jitendra Srivastava, respectively. The discussion covered various topics related to sanitation, including the proper management and disposal of cattle dung under the GOBARdhan scheme.
The UT officers provided updates on their efforts to elevate their villages’ status from Open Defecation Free (ODF) to ODF Plus by the end of 2023-24 through house-to-house garbage collection and solid waste segregation. The meeting also emphasized the need for plastic waste segregation, shredding, and packing in the form of bales for scientific disposal. The Union Secretary commended the UT administration’s progress under Swachh Bharat Mission and urged further momentum in solid waste management.
The meeting also covered updates on the Jal Jeevan Mission’s progress, including the increase in households receiving a supply of tap water from around 6 lakh to over 11 lakh since 2019. The Union Secretary directed the UT Jal Shakti Department to expedite and complete all pending Jal Jeevan Mission works and ensure participation of Pani Samitis for regular inspection and assessment of water supply projects. She also stressed the importance of regular water quality testing and installing signages at every water supply project, containing relevant information about their execution, operation, and funding.
The meeting also had interactions with Deputy Commissioners to seek feedback regarding the flagship schemes’ implementations in their districts. The meeting was attended by senior officers from various departments in person and virtually, including the Commissioner Secretary Rural Development, Mandeep Kaur, Secretary in Jal Shakti Department, Deepika Sharma, and MD Jal Jeevan Mission, G N Itoo.
