Rajouri District's initiative to convert Waste into Organic Compost

The administration of Rajouri district has set up a solid waste management center in the Sunderbani tehsil to enhance waste collection and processing. Led by the Municipal Council Rajouri, this project involves door-to-door waste collection using five vehicles and the staff of MC Sunderbani.

Dilip Kumar, executive officer of MC Sunderbani, said, "This facility is dedicated to solid waste management. Workers collect garbage from 13 wards door-to-door, and the gathered waste is brought to the plant for segregation and processing. Plastic waste is separated, and non-biodegradable waste is appropriately treated and transformed into organic compost."

He encouraged the residents to refrain from discarding trash into the water bodies and instead hand it over to the workers to maintain the cleanliness of the water bodies and the surrounding areas. He mentioned that the fertilizer has become popular among local farmers engaged in organic farming, and all the products are quickly selling out as people notice the effects of urea on crops and human health.

The initiative provides multiple advantages, such as generating income from selling plastic waste and organic fertilizer, keeping the area clean, and creating jobs for local residents. On January 25, a containment zone and Section 144 were enforced in Badhal village of Rajouri district following an outbreak of an unidentified disease that resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals.

Local government authorities have established checkpoints on every road that leads to the village and have supplied amenities including food provisions and drinking water. Furthermore, limitations have been imposed on both public and private assemblies to curb the spread of the unknown illness. Healthcare teams have also been sent to villages to offer treatment and perform tests to determine the disease's origin.

A specialized team is investigating the reasons behind the deaths, with over 200 samples dispatched to different institutions for analysis. Security measures are being implemented to control access to restricted areas.