SMC links release of gazetted officers’ salary to home composting compliance

Srinagar, Oct 6: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has directed all its gazetted officers to adopt and practice home composting at their residences, with the release of their current month’s salary linked to compliance with the order.
According to an order issued by the Office of the Commissioner SMC, the initiative aims to promote waste management at source, encourage decentralised processing of wet waste and reduce the quantity of waste requiring transportation to municipal waste-processing facilities.
The order directs the officers to properly segregate biodegradable and wet waste generated at their residences and process it through an appropriate home-composting method.
It reads the composting facility or activity is required to be maintained regularly and kept functional so that the initiative becomes a sustained waste-management practice rather than a one-time compliance exercise.
“All Gazetted Officers have been directed to submit geotagged photographs of the home-composting facility or activity at their residences to the concerned Zonal Officer or Sectional Head within 10 days from the date of issuance of the order,” reads the order.
It reads, the concerned Zonal Officers and Sectional Heads have been asked to maintain proper records of compliance and submit a consolidated report to the office of the Municipal Commissioner within the prescribed period.
The SMC said the initiative is intended to promote a culture of “waste management at source”, under which waste is segregated and processed as close as possible to the point of generation. “The senior officers of the Corporation are expected to lead by example and demonstrate the practicality and benefits of decentralized waste management,” the order states.
In a key compliance measure, the SMC has also ordered that the salary for the current month of all Gazetted Officers shall be released only after submission of the requisite geotagged photographs and compliance regarding home composting.
It reads, all Joint Commissioners, the Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineers and Heads of Sections have been directed to bring the contents of the order to the notice of all Gazetted Officers and ensure timely monitoring of compliance. The order says it come into force with immediate effect. (KNO)