TEZU, 22 May: Lohit Deputy Commissioner Kesang Ngurup Damo urged all officers and stakeholders to implement the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules with utmost sincerity.

Chairing a district-level meeting in connection with the introduction of the SWM Rules, 2026 in rural areas here on Thursday, the DC informed that the earlier SWM Rules, 2016 were implemented mainly in urban areas. “However, with the notification of the SWM Rules, 2026, the rural areas have also been brought under the ambit of solid waste management,” he said.

He further stated that, as per the recent notification, the Department of Rural Development has been designated as the nodal department, while the Panchayati Raj Department will function as the co-nodal department for implementation of the SWM rules in rural areas.

The rules, which came into effect on 1 April, will now cover both urban and rural areas.

During the meeting, which was attended by the Wakro ADC, the rural development deputy director, and the ICDS DD, among others, detailed deliberations were held on the guidelines of the Rural Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 and the measures required for effective implementation at the grassroots level. After discussions, the house resolved to take immediate steps for the formation of task forces at the district, subdivision and circle levels.

It was also decided to constitute special cells at various locations with designated nodal officers and team members for coordinated implementation and monitoring.

The meeting further resolved to conduct extensive sensitisation programmes on SWM Rules, 2026 at the subdivision, circle and gram panchayat levels with the active involvement of gaon buras, panchayati raj members, self-help groups, NGOs, community-based organisations, and other local stakeholders. (DIPRO)