By DIKSHA BENIPURI | Kashmir Ahead
Kashmir , October 26,2026– The Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban is the improvement in sanitation, solid-waste management and public cleanliness across Jammu and Kashmir. The mission focuses on eliminating open defecation, promoting scientific waste disposal and encouraging behavioural change to build healthier urban communities.
The programme covers 80 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), with 100% door-to-door waste collection reported across urban areas. Infrastructure development includes Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), composting facilities, sewage treatment systems and initiatives to clean water bodies.
According to the reported figures, 62 ULBs have MRF facilities, while 57 have compost pits. The initiative has also supported the cleaning of 193 water bodies, alongside efforts to process accumulated legacy waste.
Financial Progress Under SBM-U
Under SBM 1.0, funds available were reported at ₹341.64 crore, against expenditure of ₹318.37 crore. A further ₹23.06 crore was surrendered, while the Utilisation Certificate status was reported as submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Under SBM 2.0 and the SNA-SPARSH funding mechanism, ₹82.72 crore was released during 2026–27, with expenditure of ₹24.77 crore reported for the financial year. The figures reflect continuing investment in urban sanitation and waste-management infrastructure.
Strengthening Solid-Waste Processing
Solid-waste management remains a major component of the mission, with a focus on segregating dry and wet waste and improving processing capacity.
For dry waste, the target covers 78 ULBs with a processing capacity of 783 tonnes per day (TPD). Tenders have been issued for 77 ULBs covering 782 TPD. Facilities in 62 ULBs, with a reported capacity of 291 TPD, have been completed and made operational, while work covering 16 ULBs and 492 TPD remains in progress.
For wet waste, the target is 78 sites with a capacity of 459 TPD. Tenders have been issued for 77 ULBs covering 457 TPD. Facilities in 57 ULBs, with a capacity of 181 TPD, have been completed, while work covering 21 ULBs and 276 TPD is underway.
Under the aspirational toilets initiative, 60 seats have been completed against a target of 375, while another 100 seats are under construction.
CBG and Construction Waste Initiatives
Waste-to-energy and construction-and-demolition waste projects are also progressing. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s compressed biogas (CBG) project, designed for 300 TPD, has reached the tender stage, with one bid received and the tender extended. The Jammu Municipal Corporation’s 225 TPD CBG project is reported to be 50% complete, with digester flooring completed.
For construction-and-demolition waste, projects with a combined capacity of 190 TPD have been awarded at two sites. The Jammu facility, with a capacity of 65 TPD, is complete, while the Srinagar facility, designed for 125 TPD, is 95% complete. The respective targets are October 2026 for C&D waste and March 2027 for the CBG initiative, according to the supplied update.
Legacy Waste Remediation and Wastewater Management
Legacy waste remediation is another priority. Against a target of 26.29 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), 13.29 LMT has been bioremediated, leaving 13.00 LMT pending.
Under used-water management, projects covering 76 ULBs have been approved, including 73.63 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage treatment plant capacity and 445.05 kilometres of interception and diversion networks. Works for 37.65 MLD of treatment capacity, valued at ₹200 crore, have been allotted.
Sanitation Standards and Community Participation
Jammu and Kashmir is also pursuing improved sanitation standards and greater public participation. The reported achievements include Garbage-Free City star ratings, ODF++ certification for Jammu and Pattan, ODF+ status across 70 ULBs, and engagement of 421 Safai-Mitra workers and 5,632 self-help group members. A Swachhata School Internship initiative further supports awareness and behavioural change.
The next phase will focus on completing ongoing processing facilities, accelerating wastewater projects, expanding scientific waste disposal and strengthening community participation to sustain cleaner and healthier urban areas.
