500 panchayats to get ‘zero waste’ tag by Oct 2

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 23

The government has asked district officials to identify at least one solid liquid management (SLM) cluster consisting of 10 to 12 gram panchayats (GPs) to make 500 panchayats as zero waste panchayats by October 2. So far 12 SLM clusters have been identified in 109 GPs, stated an official release issued here.

According to the release, all development blocks have prepared block level solid liquid waste management (SLWM) plan. It is proposed to make at least 500 gram panchayats “Zero Waste GP” by October 2. The Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) for the year 2019-20 has been approved with budgetary provision of Rs 427.42 crore.

Funds to the tune of Rs 3 crore have been released to Higher Education Department for installation of incinerators in schools. The incinerators developed by self help groups have been approved by the Pollution Control Board which will be rolled out shortly, it stated.

The funds to the tune of Rs 1.82 crore have been released to the Forest Department for fixing grills, wire mesh and barriers at vulnerable points for preventing solid waste flow into the water bodies in Bilaspur, Chamba, Dharamsala and Nahan forest circles in the state

Rural areas of Himachal Pradesh became open defecation free (ODF) on October 28, 2016. Thereafter, focus under Swachh Bharat Mission has shifted to the ODF sustainability and solid and liquid waste management (SLWM). The release said Rs. 103.68 crore has been utilized in 768 gram panchayats. They built soak pit, magic pit, leach pit and drains at individual and community level under the mission.