Baltal, July 2: Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), Kamal Kishore Soan, on Thursday reviewed sanitation and solid waste management arrangements along the Baltal axis for the smooth conduct of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 and inaugurated an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Exhibition under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) at the Baltal Base Camp.
During his visit, Soan was received by Director General, Rural Sanitation, Jammu and Kashmir, Anoo Malhotra. He inspected sanitation infrastructure and facilities established along the Baltal route and reviewed the preparedness of sanitation workers and support systems to ensure a clean, hygienic and environmentally sustainable pilgrimage.
The Additional Secretary also visited the Solid Waste Management Plant at Domail Camp, where he assessed arrangements for the collection, segregation, processing and scientific disposal of waste generated during the annual pilgrimage. He interacted with sanitation workers and commended their dedication in maintaining cleanliness despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions.
Later, Soan inaugurated the IEC Exhibition under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), which showcased a biogas model, waste-to-art exhibits, a Bartan Bank and awareness stalls promoting sustainable sanitation practices and responsible waste management.
As part of the Swachh Yatra Campaign, around 1.5 lakh jute bags will be distributed among pilgrims to discourage the use of single-use plastic and polythene and encourage environmentally responsible practices during the pilgrimage.
Appreciating the efforts of the Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Jammu and Kashmir, Soan stressed the importance of sustained cleanliness, scientific waste management and active public participation to make the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 a clean, green and eco-friendly pilgrimage.
Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Ganderbal, sanitation officers and officials from the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) and National Jal Jeevan Mission accompanied the Additional Secretary during the visit.
Comments are closed.