The government on Saturday approved launching of Waste Management and Rural Sanitation (WM&RS) Project initially for 72 villages of Punjab and two villages will be selected from each district. The decision was taken in meeting that was presided over by Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan in which the Secretary Local Bodies Punjab, Director General and other high ranking officers were present.
The Minister said this project will involve local communities which will ensure sustainability of the project. "Nominal service fee will be charged from the locals," he added. He also approved three-member rickshaw team for each village to collect garbage from a village and added that the project will be extended to all other villages of Punjab in the next phase. "Unfortunately, there is no sanitation system in our rural areas and thus people are disposing off their garbage on self help basis. Inadequate sanitation arrangements have led to pollution and consequently causing negative impact on vegetables and other crops," he added.
The Minister told the meeting that a comprehensive rural sanitation programme is evolved and practical steps will be taken for its implementation shortly. He directed the concerned officials that the salary of sanitary workers should not be less than Rs20,000.