500 panchayats in HP target to achieve ‘zero waste’

SHIMLA: The government of Himachal Pradesh has directed district officials to find at least one solid liquid management (SLM) cluster, which consist of 10 to 12 gram panchayats (GPs) with the motive to make 500 panchayats as ‘zero waste’ panchayats by October 2. In 109 GPs, 12 SLM clusters have been recognised so far, as per an official release.

The release states that all development blocks have arranged block level solid liquid waste management (SLWM) plan. It is proposed to make at least 500 gram panchayats ‘Zero Waste GP’ by October 2. The Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) has been approved with the budget of Rs 427.42 crore for the year 2019-20.

Amount of Rs 3 crore is funded to Higher Education Department for installation of incinerators in schools. The Pollution Control Board has approved the incinerators developed by self-help groups, will be rolled out shortly. The funds of Rs 1.82 crore have been released to the state’s Forest Department for fixing grills, wire mesh and barriers at vulnerable points for preventing solid waste flow into the water bodies in Bilaspur, Chamba, Dharamsala and Nahan forest circles in the state.