Kishtwar, September 19, 2026: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Sh. Pankaj Kumar Sharma (JKAS), today chaired a meeting at the New DC Office Complex, Kishtwar, to review the implementation and monitoring of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 across the district.

Assistant Commissioner Panchayat Kishtwar, Sh. Neeraj Sharma (JKAS), briefed the meeting on the status of implementation across the prescribed eight data points. He informed that the District Committee has been constituted and the compliance report for August has already been submitted. A total of 12 Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) have been identified in the district.

The Deputy Commissioner directed the authorities of Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru and Rattle HEPPs, along with the District Police Line, District Jail and all identified BWGs, to ensure registration of all concerned contractors and Bulk Waste Generators on the centralized CPCB portal.

He also directed that action under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act be initiated against non-compliant establishments, including measures such as disconnection of electricity and water connections wherever warranted.

During the meeting, the status of waste-processing infrastructure was reviewed. It was informed that a full-fledged processing plant is currently not available in Kishtwar. The status of Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs) and the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) was also discussed.

Regarding the MRF, the Executive Officer, Municipal Council Kishtwar, informed that the shed work has been completed, while construction of the protection wall is underway and the issue of the approach road is being addressed.

The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for a self-sustaining waste-management model and directed that all hopper trucks remain functional and be utilized for waste collection across all blocks.

On four-way waste segregation, the meeting was informed that 12 Panchayats have started segregation of waste in accordance with the SWM Rules, 2026.

Reviewing enforcement against Single-Use Plastic (SUP), officials informed that enforcement drives had resulted in the seizure of 25 kg of plastic in urban areas and 45 kg in rural areas. The DC directed that all seized single-use plastic be promptly handed over to the J&K Pollution Control Board for appropriate disposal.

The ACP Kishtwar was further directed to issue one final notice to all non-registered BWGs and seek immediate explanations from the concerned BDOs in cases of continued non-compliance beyond Monday.

The meeting was also informed that 152 capacity-building programmes have been conducted across the district and 129 vulnerable cleanliness hotspots have been identified.

The Deputy Commissioner stressed that all concerned departments and establishments must implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, in letter and spirit and ensure strict, time-bound compliance.

The meeting was attended by ADC Kishtwar Sh. Pawan Kotwal (JKAS), GM DIC Kishtwar Sh. Mohsin Raza, ACD Kishtwar Sh. Manoj Kumar, all SDMs through virtual mode, CEO MC Kishtwar Sh. Mirza Mumtaz Iqbal, all BDOs, GM NHPC, heads of Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru and Rattle HEPPs through virtual mode, CMO Kishtwar Dr. Sanjay Bhat, ExEn Jal Shakti Kishtwar Sh. Rohit Wadera, besides other officers and representatives of concerned departments.