The state government has proposed to make at least 500 Gram Panchayats ‘Zero Waste’ GP by 2 October this year.

Informing this, a government spokesperson here on Sunday said an Annual Implementation Plan for the year 2019-20 has been approved with budgetary provision of Rs 427.42 crore

Furthermore, funds to the tune of Rs 3 crore have been released to Higher Education Department for installation of Incinerator in the schools, he said, adding the incinerators developed by self-help groups have been approved by the Pollution Control Board which will be rolled out shortly.

He said as Himachal Pradesh pushes towards development the solid waste management represents one of the greatest challenges present before the state.

In pursuit for economic and social development the state government is giving due priority to environmental aspects in line with its commitment, he said, adding the state government in its pursuit of an effective state-wide solid waste management system presents solutions to control menace of solid waste in the state effectively.

“For maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of this service, necessary measures are being initiated to tackle this problem systematically by going into all aspects of the “Solid Waste Management” and by devising cost-effective system which may ensure adequate level of SWM services to all class of citizens along with collection, transportation and disposal of waste in an environmentally acceptable manner in terms of the new Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016,” he said

Being a most-favoured tourist destination, the state receives huge influx of tourists, however, the quality and quantity of waste generated in the state does not remain the same through all seasons, due to massive floating population the state due to tourism activities.

After the rural areas of Himachal Pradesh became Open Defecation Free (ODF) on 28 October, the focus under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin’ (SBM-G) has shifted to ODF sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM).

At present, all Gram Panchayats have taken up SLWM activities through various programmes in convergence mode, he disclosed.

Funds are being released to the Gram Panchayats which includes Rs 7 lakh for a Gram Panchayat having up to 150 households, Rs 12 lakh up to 300 households, Rs 15 lakh up to 500 households and Rs 20 lakh for Gram Panchayat having more than 500 households, he maintained, adding funds amounting to Rs 103.68 crore have been utilized in 768 Gram Panchayats.

“After getting feedback from the field, cluster approach was adopted to effectively and economically deal with Solid and Liquid Waste (SLW). All the districts were requested to identify at least one SLWM cluster consisting of 10 to 12 GPs. As a result 12 SLWM clusters were identified consisting of 109 GPs,” he said.

All the clusters prepared their SLWM plans as per their local conditions and submitted the requirement of funds to the state and the funds were released to clusters which includes Rs 12,20,000 lakh to Narkanda (Shimla), Rs 30,00,000 lakh to Gohar (Mandi), Rs 8,04,999 lakh to Jhandutta (Bilaspur), Rs 12,71,880 lakhs to Ajauli (Una), Rs 49,78,985 lakh to Khalet Bhawarna (Kangra), Rs 50,00,000 lakh to Sangla (Kinnaur), Rs 5,00,000 lakh to Nauni (Solan), Rs 3,52,000 lakh to Ghoond (Shimla), Rs 56,11,909 lakh to Ghugar (Kangra), Rs 48,48,000 lakh to Bangana (Una).