DC assures to clear legacy waste by Jan 15th
Budgam Jan 5 (KNS): Deputy Commissioner Budgam Dr Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid on Thursday assured that legacy waste in all the panchayats across Budgam district would be cleared by January 15th 2023. DC Budgam was speaking during a conference on Rural Waste Management (Swachata Conference) at Budgam which was attended by senior officers of Rural Development Department, District administration Budgam, members of various civil society organizations , members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) media and other public spirited citizens.
“ By January 15th 2023 all the waste dumped on roads , river banks , water bodies and other places for years and months would be cleared by administration and once this is done it is the duty of the people to ensure they don’t dump waste here and there and Govt would take strict action against the violators. Now the Block Development Officers (BDOs) won’t have to take consent from Executive Magistrates like Tehsildars or SDMs to initiate action as BDOs have the powers of executive magistrates now. We will act against those people who are habitual offenders. We also request religious leaders like masjid Imams , NGO members , social activists to come forward and support us in this mission” said Deputy Commissioner Budgam
Earlier speaking during the conference Director Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Khalid Majeed appreciated the district administration Budgam particularly Assistant Commissioner Panchayat and BDO Budgam Hilal Ahmad Mir for organizing an event on Rural Waste Management and Swachhta. He said that we have to evolve as a society and learn the art of waste management. He appealed to masjid imams, religious scholars to speak on waste management and sanitation during their Friday sermons and other religious gatherings.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, social activist and writer during his address said that in house composting of kitchen waste was the need of the hour as it reduces 85 % of the total waste generation if treated. He appreciated the steps taken by DC Budgam and RDD officials in reaching out the people vis a vis waste management.
“We need to compost within the premises of our houses. In villages we have enough space to do so by digging a small pit to compost the kitchen waste. This will reduce pressure on segregation sheds plus will control dog menace” said Dr Raja Muzaffar
He also requested DC Budgam, Director RDD Kashmir, ADDC Budgam , ACP Budgam and BDOs to hold sensitization workshops for masjid Imams , temple & gurdwara priests through waste management experts so that they spread the message of swachata and sanitation within communities during religious gatherings.
There was an interactive session wherein DC Budgam had an open session with NGO representatives , social activists, Govt officials, Panchayat Secretaries, Sarpanches and Panches. The participants appreciated the programme and urged DC Budgam to hold the same at block level in future months. BDO Nagam Kamila Mushtaq moderated the programme. Several Sarpaches and Panches also addressed the gathering during the conference . (KNS)