Rs 4.5 crore sanctioned for Baramulla sanitation infra, says Agriculture Minister Javid Dar

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar on Friday announced that Rs 4.5 crore has been sanctioned for Baramulla district, with 10 per cent of district capex earmarked for every district in the Union Territory to bolster sanitation and waste management infrastructure.

During a visit to Tangmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, minister Javid Ahmad Dar said the initiative formed part of a wider push to promote cleanliness and environmental awareness.

“This programme was chosen by the Department of Rural Development and our sanitation wing because this place has a special purpose. This is a very important initiative,” he said.

Describing public awareness as central to the success of sanitation drives, the Minister said, Every year we try to raise awareness among people. The more awareness people have, the cleaner it will be. This is related to our lives and environment.

He called for community participation, stating, We need to participate as a community. When the whole community participates, I am sure one day we will be successful in this.

Minister Dar said the government had framed a policy to address gaps in the earlier system. Before the government was formed, an initiative was taken. There were segregation sets in every village and panchayat. There was no finance to regulate it. There was no money for maintenance and operational maintenance, he said, adding, Now the government has brought a policy. I am very thankful to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The Minister said the matter had been raised in the Assembly last year by MLAs. Many people spoke about this. This was a need of the time. The CM understood this and we took the initiative from the department.

He said the initiative had been finalised with fund allocations. We have allocated Rs 4.5 crore for the Baramulla district. For the rest of the districts across the UT, 10 per cent of district capex has been earmarked. I am sure all the problems will be solved.

On land identification, Dar said, PRA was here at that time. Land identification was done by PRA. They showed us the land. Our officers saw it. If there is a problem, we will rectify it. It will be done.

He acknowledged the government was operating during a transition period. We are working on it. We have communicated. It is a transit period. We have implemented the Vikshit Bharat scheme. We are in the transit phase. We are communicating with the old liabilities, he said.

I have been assured by the CM that we will give the money to the UT government, Minister Dar added. (KNS)