A meeting to review the implementation of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules- 2026 was held here today under the chairmanship of Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Sher Singh.
The meeting was attended by Chief Planning Officer Ajaypal Singh; Joint Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Abdul Sattar, besides other concerned officers.
The meeting was informed that the SWM Rules- 2026 notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change supersede the earlier 2016 Rules and integrate the principles of Circular Economy and Extended Producer Responsibility, with focus on efficient waste segregation and management. To ensure effective implementation, the J&K Government has constituted an Implementation Committee at the UT level, besides District, ULB and Block level Monitoring Task Forces.
The ADDC also apprised the meeting of directions issued by the Supreme Court for supervising and enforcing the SWM Rules within their jurisdiction, and stressed on regular inspections, timely reporting and strict monitoring of compliance.
Reviewing the status of mandatory source segregation of waste into Wet, Dry, Sanitary and Special Care categories, the ADDC directed JMC and other Urban Local Bodies to intensify awareness and IEC campaigns, ensure door-to-door sensitisation, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms, including digital tracking of compliance and penal action against defaulters.
The meeting also discussed key responsibilities under the Rules, including framing of local bye-laws, strengthening of waste processing and recovery infrastructure, identification of bulk waste generators, and timely submission of compliance reports. The ADDC directed that environmental compensation and penalties be strictly enforced against non-compliant generators and agencies.
Progress on ground infrastructure and institutional partnerships for waste management in the district was also reviewed.
The ADDC directed all concerned departments to ensure coordinated and time-bound implementation of the SWM Rules, 2026.
Among others, officers from JMC, Health, Education, Agriculture and the Pollution Control Committee attended the meeting.