YUPIA, 12 Jun: Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering on Friday urged all zilla parishad members (ZPMs) to brainstorm and develop innovative and practical methods for effective solid waste management in their respective jurisdictions.
The deputy commissioner made the call while chairing a consultative meeting on the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 with PRI members and officials from the PHE&WSD and Tourism and Agriculture and Allied Departments at the ZPC conference hall here.
The meeting was organised by the district panchayat office, in collaboration with the district administration, following the Supreme Court order dated 19 February, mandating the transfer of solid waste management responsibilities to panchayat bodies. The responsibility was earlier handled by the PHE&WSD and the Urban Development Department.
Addressing the gathering, the DC stated that the waste management plans prepared by the PRI members should clearly outline methods of waste collection, challenges faced at the grassroots level,and the support required from the departments concerned. He further stressed the importance of involving community members while formulating such plans.
Highlighting the need for practical discussions, Tsering said that consultative meetings should be interactive, rather than merely academic, and suggested that the ZPMs personally present their proposals and action plans during future meetings.
The DC also directed all ZPMs to identify bulk waste generating (BWG) pockets within their jurisdictions and submit the details to the panchayat office for registration and uploading to the CPCB portal.
ADC-cum-DPDO Tame Yajum in her address stated that the need for convergence of solid waste management programmes under the Urban Development Department and the PHE&WSD had been felt for a long time, and the present transfer of the subject to panchayati raj institutions is a significant initiative towards integrated waste management.
Expressing optimism, she said that with the manpower available within PRI institutions and technical support from the departments concerned, the district would be able to address solid waste management challenges effectively in the near future.
ZPC Bamang Yayu urged PRI members to utilise the opportunity to understand their roles and responsibilities under the new rules, and requested departmental officials to actively participate in gram sabhas for wider dissemination of information.
During the programme, SWM assistant nodal officer Nabam Kuku delivered a detailed presentation on the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 and elaborated the responsibilities of PRI members in implementing the provisions of the rules.
Officials from the PHE&WSD, including Executive Engineers Debia Padang and Sawang Riang, along with AE Harang Sonam, sensitised PRI leaders to the various components of the Swachh Bharat Mission Phase I and II, including ODF plus initiatives.
The officials unanimously emphasised the importance of segregation of waste at the source, stating that proper segregation alone could resolve a major portion of waste management issues. They also highlighted the crucial role of women and self-help groups (SHGs) in ensuring proper waste disposal and management practices.
ZPMs of Papum Pare district, heads of Agricultureand Allied Departments, PRI members and officials from various line departments attended the meeting. (DIPRO)
