Secretary, ministry of drinking water and sanitation, Government of India, Parameswaran Iyer and chiefs secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam Tuesday co-chaired a video conference with deputy commissioners to review the progress achieved under the SBM (G) Programme here at the Civil Secretariat.
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, Shri 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. Shri 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, Iyer convened a meeting of officers in Kupwara to review the status of drinking water and sanitation in the district and overall performance under Transformation 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.
Later the secretary along with Chief Secretary and officers visited Zangli and inspected various individual household toilets constructed under SBM, interacted with the people, offered a patient hearing to their issues and demands. He instructed the district administration to address the issues and demands raised by the people on priority basis.