Believe it or not! Despite figuring in the list of 100 to be developed as a 'Smart City'
PANAJI: Believe it or not! Despite figuring in the list of 100 to be developed as a \'Smart City\', Panaji may not look too smart when it comes to access for proper sanitation to a little over 2500 households in the capital city.
Over 20 per cent of slum-like households in Panaji defecate in the open, reveals the report of socio-economic survey conducted under Rajiv Awas Yojana Scheme.
The survey conducted by Regional Center for Urban and Environmental Studies (supported by Union Ministry of Urban Development) along with All India Institute of Local Self Government, Mumbai states that of the total 2494 slum-like households 520 households (20.85 %) defecate in the open.
The report was submitted to the Corporation of the City of Panaji at its ordinary meeting last week.
While 1278 households (51.24%) have septic tank/flush laterines of their own, 329 households (13.19%) share dry laterine.
Additionally, 216 households (8.66%) have community septic tanks/flush laterines, 81 households (3.25%) have shared septic tank/flush laterine, 59 households (2.37%) have own dry laterine facilities. However, only 11 households (0.44%) use community dry laterines.
As far as bathroom facilities are concerned, nearly 1548 households (62.57%) have it within their premises while nearly 581 (23.48%) have it outside their premises. 21 households (0.85%) depend on community bathrooms.
Interestingly, 73 households have no bathroom facility.
As per the Census 2011, Panaji Municipal Corporation jurisdiction had no slums. However, a survey conducted with the assistance of elected representatives has identified and verified 2517 households under slum category which are known as ‘slums-like area’. A population of 8638 resides here.
Theses slum-like areas are present in varying degrees and are in scattered pattern in most of the wards of Panaji City. Some of the slums-like area are spread across multiple wards and some of the wards have more than one slum like areas.
Of the 30 wards in Panaji City, about 24 wards have slum-like households. The Camarabhat area, however, falls outside CCP jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Goan, former CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado said that the slum-like households have no basic facilities as most of them are illegal and some others that are legal are in dilapidated condition.
“This exercise was carried out under Rajiv Awas Yojana so that people living in slum-like households get better living conditions,” he said.
He however stressed the need to send this report to the Centre for getting financial assistance.
“This report should be sent to the Centre so that we can get funds for improving living conditions for people living in slum like areas. And if the Rajiv Awas Yojana scheme does not exist anymore, then CCP should try and get funds through some other scheme,” said Furtado.
Panaji MLA Sidharth Kuncalienkar informed that efforts are being made to provide toilet facilities to Panaji’s residents.
“We are constructing three public toilets in Mala area especially for locals. In areas like Boca de vaca and Deulwada, we have constructed modern toilet blocks that are already in use. We also have similar plans for Altinho.
Additionally, he also informed that plans are afoot for providing an independent sewage system for Ribandar area.
CCP Mayor Shubham Chodankar however did not respond to the calls.
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DOWN THE DRAIN
* Open defecation: 520 (20.85%)
* Own septic tank/flush: 1278 (51.24%)
* Own dry laterine: 59 (2.37%)
* Shared septic tank/flush: 81 (3.25%)
* Shared dry laterine: 329 (13.19%)
* Community septic tank/flush: 216 (8.66%)
* Community dry laterine: 11 (0.44%)
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“We are constructing three public toilets in Mala area especially for locals. In areas like Boca de vaca and Deulwada, we have constructed modern toilet blocks that are already in use
- Sidharth Kuncalienkar, Panaji MLA
