The Government of Punjab, Department of Local Government on August 11, 2026, has notified a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)/Guidelines for Identification and Assessment of High Footfall Sites, Tourist-Centric Destinations, and Pilgrim Centres, aimed at developing Sustainable Visible Cleanliness & Solid Waste Management (SWM) Models under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 (Notification No. LG-LG-405/227/2026-LG4/656 dated August 10, 2026).
The SOP applies to all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Punjab covering Tourist Destinations (heritage sites, memorials, museums, wetlands, eco-tourism spots, waterfronts), Pilgrim Centres (Gurudwaras, temples, churches, mosques, dargahs, shrines), and Event-Based Locations (melas, religious gatherings, festivals). It mandates four-stream waste segregation — Wet, Dry, Sanitary, and Special Care Waste — along with prohibition of single-use plastics/cutlery, at-least twice-daily sweeping, and scientific waste processing.
Key components include: (1) Identification & Inventory Mapping (ULB-wise inventory, visitor footfall assessment, GIS geo-tagging, hotspot identification); (2) Waste Assessment & Characterization (a minimum 7-day waste audit covering seasonal variation); (3) Infrastructure Gap Analysis (sweeping, segregation, collection/transportation, processing facilities, manpower); (4) Prioritization of sites into High/Medium/Low categories; and (5) Development of site-specific Sustainable SWM Models emphasizing circular economy principles, resource recovery, and plastic waste reduction. Special event-specific waste management plans are also required for festivals and fairs.
Responsibility is distributed among ULBs, Deputy Commissioners, the Tourism Department, Religious Trusts/Management Committees, the Punjab Pollution Control Board, and contractors/agencies, with a Nodal Officer to be nominated by each ULB for coordination, monitoring, reporting, and grievance redressal. The SOP also calls for capacity-building/training programs, IEC and awareness campaigns, and periodic review of site-specific models (at least annually).
[Notification No. LG-LG-405/227/2026-LG4/656]
