Leh, July 27, 2026/ VOL News Desk/ Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, chaired a meeting of the UT-Level Implementation Committee constituted for the effective implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and reviewed the progress made towards compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 6174 concerning solid waste management and monitoring.

The meeting was attended by the Divisional Commissioner; Secretaries of Health, PWD, Tourism and Planning; Regional Director, IFS and Member Secretary, Ladakh Pollution Control Committee (LPCC); Deputy Commissioner, Leh; senior officers of concerned departments and other stakeholders. Vice-Chancellors of the University of Ladakh and Deputy Commissioners of various districts participated virtually.

As part of the review, the Deputy Commissioner, Leh, presented an overview of the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, covering segregation of waste at source, registration of Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs), waste transportation, functioning of Solid Resource Management Centres (SRMCs), waste collection systems, household-level dustbins, waste collection mapping and proposed garbage collection vehicles.

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The presentation also included the schedule for door-to-door and designated-point collection of waste through pickup vehicles in rural areas, along with the status of source segregation and other solid waste management initiatives.

Regional Director, IFS and Member Secretary, LPCC, Mandeep Mittal, presented the compliance framework relating to the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The presentation covered identification of Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs), registration and monitoring of Bulk Waste Generators, reports submitted by Urban Local Bodies on the Swachhtam portal, four-way source segregation, dissemination of court directions, inspections by District Collectors, fortnightly compliance reports, monitoring mechanisms and identification of implementation gaps.

The Chief Secretary undertook a detailed review of the presentations and sought district-wise information on the financial expenditure incurred so far, proposed requirements for machinery and other infrastructure, the status of SRMCs, frequency of waste collection, registration of BWGs and the identification and remediation of Garbage Vulnerable Points.

He directed the Deputy Commissioners to undertake a comprehensive district-wise assessment of violations related to littering and other waste management norms and establish effective mechanisms for imposing fines and monitoring their collection. He also sought details of the existing waste collection system, payment mechanisms and the frequency and coverage of waste collection in urban and rural areas.

The Chief Secretary stressed the need to develop a robust, technology-enabled monitoring framework for waste collection and transportation. He directed the concerned departments to explore the use of GPS and other digital tools to track waste collection vehicles and verify whether scheduled routes and collection points are being covered on a daily basis.

He emphasised that the system should enable real-time or periodic verification of waste collection activities, including the mapping of collection points and the monitoring of designated routes. He also called for a mechanism through which instances of garbage dumping on roads and at vulnerable locations could be reported, documented and addressed promptly.

The Chief Secretary directed the concerned authorities to clearly define responsibility and accountability in cases where scheduled waste collection is not undertaken. He stressed the need for a digital framework that would enable district administrations to monitor whether collection vehicles have reached designated locations as per schedule.

He further called for a comprehensive assessment of rural solid waste management infrastructure, including the mapping of villages, collection points and SRMCs. The system, he said, should provide reliable data on the quantity of waste collected, transported, processed and disposed of, thereby creating a comprehensive database for planning and monitoring.

The meeting also discussed the need for an independent assessment of solid waste management performance across districts and villages. The Chief Secretary suggested that a baseline assessment and periodic evaluation mechanism be developed to assess the performance of local bodies and villages on defined parameters. He emphasised that district and village-level performance could be evaluated periodically, with the findings made available in the public domain to promote transparency, healthy competition and continuous improvement.

He also directed the concerned departments to strengthen coordination among the Planning Department, municipal bodies, district administrations and other stakeholders. The possibility of using existing digital platforms and integrated public grievance or service delivery systems for monitoring solid waste management activities was also discussed.

The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of ensuring proper management of wet waste and directed the concerned authorities to maintain accurate digital records and develop a data-based reporting system to track waste generation and collection.

The meeting also reviewed the solid waste management situation in Kargil and Drass. The Chief Secretary referred to Garbage Vulnerable Points in certain areas, including locations where improper disposal of waste could attract wildlife and create additional risks. The Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, informed the meeting about the steps being taken to address such vulnerable locations and make the identified areas free from garbage within a stipulated timeframe.

The Chief Secretary directed all Deputy Commissioners and concerned departments to adopt a coordinated, measurable and technology-driven approach towards solid waste management. He emphasised that effective implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, requires regular monitoring, accurate data, clear accountability, timely enforcement and active participation of local communities.

He further stressed the need to move beyond periodic clean-up drives and establish sustainable systems for waste segregation, collection, transportation, processing and disposal across both urban and rural areas of Ladakh.

The meeting concluded with directions for the preparation of a comprehensive district-wise action framework, strengthening of monitoring and reporting mechanisms, identification of infrastructure and machinery gaps, and regular review of progress to ensure effective compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.