Leh, March 26, 2021: Advisor Ladakh, Umang Narula who is also the Chairperson of State Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee (SLCC) of Swachh Bharat Mission- Grameen (SBM-G) chaired the first meeting after its constitution, at the UT Secretariat. 

The meeting discussed the issue of maintenance of Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) constructed under the scheme. The department of Rural Development was asked to involve the Panchayats in the maintenance of these assets. The department was asked to explore the possibility of charging user fees to maintain these CSCs. 

The meeting also discussed the functional design of the Community Sanitary Complex. The Advisor asked the department to explore innovative design components to ensure all-weather functionality and plan the establishment of Community Toilets at various locations along the highways for the convenience of travellers. 

While discussing the issue of Greywater management, the Committee impressed upon planning greywater management in consonance with piped water supply already provided to villages and planned to be provided under Jal Jeevan Mission.

The meeting also deliberated upon the processing of bio-waste produced in the villages. The District Panchayat Officer, Kargil informed the meeting that there are successful individual units of biogas plants. In the Annual Action Plan units in both the districts have been proposed for the first time under the component Gobar-Dhan of SBM-G.

After deliberations on various aspects of the implementation of the scheme, the Committee approved the Annual Implementation Plan and Project Implementation Plan under SBM-G.

The Advisor exhorted upon the department to scale up Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) interventions targeting panchayat officials, elected representatives, schools, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in villages, shopkeepers, families, and general public.

It was informed that both the districts have achieved the target of Left-Over Beneficiaries of Individual Household Latrines and 99% of the target of Community Sanitary Complex during the year 2019-20.

The meeting was attended by Administrative Secretary, Finance Department; Commissioner/Secretary, PHE/(I&FC) Department; Secretary Planning, Development & Monitoring Department; Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Leh /Kargil, Director, Finance Department; Director, Rural Development & PR (Mission Director-G), Chief Engineer, PHE /I&FC, Assistant Commissioner Development, Leh/Kargil and District Panchayat Officer, Leh/Kargil.