SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is processing 1,027 tonnes per day (TPD) of municipal solid waste against urban waste generation of 1,557 TPD, leaving a substantial quantity yet to enter scientific processing, the government has informed the Legislative Assembly.
The Housing and Urban Development Department said the government was implementing measures to expand scientific processing capacity, improve source segregation and door-to-door collection, and progressively eliminate open dumping across urban areas of the Union Territory.
In Jammu city, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is processing around 295 TPD of municipal solid waste against total collection of 375 TPD, with waste collected through a 100 per cent door-to-door collection system.
The government said the collected waste is transported to the Kot Bhalwal Solid Waste Management facility, where wet and organic waste is being processed through windrow composting. A 200 TPD Bio-CBG plant is also under construction at the site and is targeted for completion by November 2026.
The Kot Bhalwal facility forms part of the 350 TPD Integrated Solid Waste Management Plant (ISWMP) planned for Jammu city.
The project is being implemented under a public-private partnership model by JMC in association with the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) on a 20-year concession basis. The government said the viability gap funding amount for the project is Rs 20 crore.
The project was delayed because of pending environmental clearance, which was subsequently obtained on August 13, 2026. Following the clearance, the government said the project is scheduled for completion by November 2026.
The 150 TPD Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at Kot Bhalwal is already fully functional, while the Bio-CBG component is under construction.
At Kot Bhalwal, dry and recyclable waste is processed through the MRF, where materials are segregated and recyclable fractions recovered. The processing system includes trommelling and segregation into soil and fine organic fractions, recyclables, plastics and other recoverable material.
The government said around 150 TPD of dry/recyclable waste is routed through the functional MRF for recovery and further processing of the residual fraction.
Across JMC, approximately 164 TPD of wet waste is being processed through different facilities. This includes 150 TPD through windrow composting, a 3 TPD Organic Waste Converter at Narwal Mandi, 5 TPD composting at Bandurakh and 6 TPD of in-situ composting by bulk waste generators.
For dry waste, around 131 TPD is being processed through the 150 TPD MRF at ISWMP Kot Bhalwal, a 5 TPD MRF at Bandurakh and a 5 TPD Material Recycling Centre at Bandurakh.
The government said a scientific sanitary landfill is planned at Kot Bhalwal as part of the 350 TPD integrated solid waste management infrastructure. It is intended for the scientific disposal of rejects and inert waste and to reduce dependence on open dumping.
The residual combustible fraction of processed waste is proposed to be utilised as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in suitable cement facilities, subject to prescribed quality standards and availability of appropriate off-take arrangements.
The government identified the availability of suitable RDF off-take facilities, their technical requirements and transportation costs as a major challenge in achieving complete utilisation of the combustible residual fraction.
It said avenues were being examined for the use of RDF in waste-to-energy plants, cement plants and other authorised facilities in accordance with applicable norms.
In other urban local bodies of the Jammu Division, 243 TPD of waste is being processed against generation of 252 TPD, according to the government.
Operational MRF facilities include plants with capacities of 10 TPD at Akhnoor, 3 TPD at Jourian, 4 TPD at Khour, 30 TPD at Kathua, 4 TPD at Billawar, 10 TPD at Doda, 13 TPD at Surankote, 8 TPD at Samba, 6 TPD at Vijaypur and 16 TPD at Bari Brahmana.
The list also includes MRF facilities of 3 TPD at Ramban, 4 TPD each at Batote and Sunderbani, 8 TPD at Nowshera, 4 TPD at Ramnagar, 5 TPD at Bhaderwah, 4 TPD at Parole, 3 TPD at Kalakote, 20 TPD at Rajouri, 50 TPD at Udhampur, 37 TPD at Katra, 5 TPD at Reasi, 7 TPD at Basohli and 5 TPD at Kishtwar.
Several other urban local bodies are currently sending their waste to neighbouring facilities for processing. These include R S Pura and Bishnah, whose waste is processed at Bari Brahmana; Ramgarh at Vijaypur; Poonch at Surankote; Thanamandi at Rajouri; Chenani at Batote; Gho-Manhasa at JMC; Thatri at Doda; Hiranagar at Samba; Lakhanpur at Kathua; and Banihal at Qazigund.
Additional MRF-cum-composting facilities are also at various stages of development. Works are in progress for facilities of 15 TPD at Poonch, 10 TPD at Rajouri, 5 TPD each at Basohli, Kishtwar and Thanamandi, while a 5 TPD facility at Ramgarh has been completed.
For the ISWM Kathua Cluster, a 41 TPD facility has reached the tender stage.
Responding to a question on measures for achieving complete door-to-door collection, source segregation and elimination of open dumping, the government said the initiatives were being implemented under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
All urban local bodies have been directed to establish and maintain 100 per cent door-to-door collection coverage. They have also been instructed to ensure segregation at source and use segregated collection and transportation systems.
Self-help groups have been engaged to create awareness about source segregation, while information, education and communication activities are being undertaken among households, commercial establishments and institutions.
The government said existing MRFs, composting facilities and other waste-processing units were being utilised and augmented to increase scientific processing capacity.
Organic waste is being addressed through composting and bio-methanation or CBG initiatives, while dry waste is being channelled through MRFs to recover recyclable materials and reduce the quantity requiring final disposal.
The government also said legacy waste dumpsites were being identified for bioremediation and bio-mining under SBM(U)-2.0 and other convergence programmes.
Urban local bodies have been directed to prevent fresh dumping at remediated or identified legacy dumpsites and ensure that newly generated municipal solid waste is transported only to designated processing or disposal facilities.
Initiatives including Hot-spot Challenges and Clean Target Units are also being undertaken to eliminate dumpsites.
The government said progress on waste collection, processing, legacy waste remediation and other SBM(U)-2.0 indicators was being monitored through prescribed Government of India and Swachh Bharat Mission digital platforms, besides regular reviews at different administrative levels.
It said digital monitoring also includes Face-App attendance of sanitation workers and GPS tracking of sanitation vehicles used for waste collection and transportation.
The performance of urban local bodies is being reviewed, with directions issued for improving source segregation, waste collection, processing, recovery of user charges, legacy waste remediation and achievement of Garbage Free City indicators.
The government said it remained committed to achieving Garbage Free Cities, expanding scientific processing of municipal solid waste and progressively eliminating open dumping sites across the urban areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
