PANAJI
The Directorate of Panchayats (DoP) is in the process of identifying 20 panchayats to be allotted funds for solid waste management in their villages.
The funds will be part of the central government’s allocation of Rs 141.85 crore to Goa for the Swachh Bharat Mission Phase 2 (Grameen), which is being released in different instalments.
"After actual implementation of funds allocated last year, we sent a report to the central government. Also, a new proposal of works worth about Rs 69 crore for the financial year was also sent to the central government,” said Director of Panchayats Siddhi Halarnkar.
“The central government has sanctioned Rs 61 crore under the scheme for the financial year 2021-22 of which, the first instalment of Rs 15.31 crore has been received by the State at the initial stage.”
“The department is now preparing a list of 20 panchayats who may need the funds for solid waste management in their villages,” said Halarnkar.
When contacted, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho said it was for the first time in the State that all panchayats have funds due to quick clearance of proposals through the panchayat department.
“The funds have been utilised to develop the entire State. Due to fast pace of work, the Centre is now keen to grant us more money under the Swachh Bharat Mission,” said Godinho.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has recently thanked the Union Minister for Jal Shakti for allocating an amount of Rs 61.26 crore to the State under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) for 2021-22.
He said this amount was “in addition to Rs 16.50 crore tied grants for sanitisation under 15th Finance Commission.”
Sawant had said the Rs 141.85 crore for the Swachh Bharat Mission Phase 2 (Grameen) would be allotted to facilitate Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) in the State.
Providing more details on the Swachh Bharat Mission, the director of panchayats said the emphasis during the initial phase (Phase I) was on providing toilets to achieve the target of an Open Defecation Free (ODF) state.
“As villages in the State have already been declared as ODF, the Phase II will now lay stress on Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM), dry waste management and faecal sewage management,” said Halarnkar.
“The emphasis during Phase II will be to take the villages to the ODF+ level, where toilets will be well maintained and the ODF++ level, where sewage generated through toilets is connected with proper sewage systems.”
"We will try and maintain the existing toilets and ensure that these toilets are in 100 percent in use,” said Halarnkar.
