Bandipora village started solid waste management for the first time

Ground Report | New Delhi: Bandipora village; To ensure cleanliness in rural areas, TA Shah village in Arin block of North Kashmir's Bandipora district launched solid waste management, a key component of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) by setting up the first waste and plastic centre.

News Agency KNO quoting Block Development Officer Arin, said that since solid waste management has emerged as a major environmental challenge in the present era, and they are looking for effective scientific disposal practices. The first plastic and waste center has been set up in TA Shah village and it will be extended to more villages of the block.

“We are looking to start solid waste management (SWM) on a pilot basis. Based on the feedback, we will decide to spread it to more villages.

ALSO READ: Most requests for account info in July-December 2020 from India: Twitter

In the absence of SWM system, villagers usually dump the garbage in dumping and compost pits. “Earlier, the system worked well as almost everything used by the villagers was organic. But now many non-compostable items, especially plastics, have entered rural areas in a big way. These villagers are coming in the way of maintaining cleanliness,” said Tajamul.

“In the absence of SWM, roadside waste has become common in many villages,” said Tajamul, adding that effective implementation of SWM in rural areas also requires segregation at source being done in urban areas.

Tajamul said that while thinking of setting up a waste and plastic center in T A Shah, it took a long time to identify the land, adding that the concerned panchayat body has played a vital role in identifying the land.

ALSO READ: S Jaishankar discussed issues of areas adjacent to LAC with Wang

He said that approval has been given to construct one more garbage pit in Balhama Arin Panchayat and they are ready for suggestions of civil societies in this regard.

Tajamul also said that steps are being taken to create awareness among the villagers regarding segregation of solid waste so that it is easy to dispose.

“Deliberations are on with experts to choose a suitable SWM model, but the broader consideration is to set up facilities for waste processing, composting and recycling in villages,” said Tajamul.

“At present, the process of identifying more villages for starting SWM is in consultation with the Panchayat bodies of different villages of the block,” he said.

You can connect with Ground Report on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp, and mail us at [email protected] to send us your suggestions and writeups.