Sinha Launches Rural Sanitation Push, Orders Crackdown on Water Body Encroachments

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said bridging the gap between rural and urban Jammu and Kashmir was the administration’s top priority, as he announced a series of sanitation initiatives and directed officials to launch a crackdown on encroachments along water bodies.

Addressing the ‘Swachhata Vijayotsav’ organised by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj under the ongoing ‘Sewa Parv’, the Lieutenant Governor said the past five to six years had shown the Centre’s “truest evidence of commitment” to the region through visible performance.

“The initiatives under education, social welfare, rural development, urban development, and healthcare are integral to building a just and inclusive society. We must push through challenges to achieve the goals of prosperous rural JK,” Sinha said.

Calling for cleanliness drives to be made a community movement, Sinha underlined their role in public health and wellbeing. He directed officials to roll out a dedicated environmental awareness campaign across rural areas and insisted that ‘Sewa Parv’ should be “integrated into life” rather than treated as a stand-alone event.

In a significant move, the Lieutenant Governor instructed authorities to take strict action against encroachments along water bodies and urged citizens to report such violations. “Let us unite to rebuild a stronger, more secure future,” he said.

During the function, Sinha laid the foundation stones for GOBARdhan Biogas Plants and Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) across several locations. He also interacted with Safai Mitras, felicitated Swachhagrahis, and released a documentary on the 2025 Amarnath Yatra, showcasing best sanitation practices.

The event was attended by Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, DDC Chairman Jammu Bharat Bhushan, legislators Yudhvir Sethi, Vikram Randhawa and Arvind Gupta, senior officials including Rural Development Secretary Mohammad Aijaz, DIG Jammu-Samba-Kathua Shiv Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Rakesh Minhas, DG Rural Sanitation Anoo Malhotra, besides members of social organisations and the public.