8 MMC wards to be declared open defecation-free

the goan I networkrMAPUSArrThe council in its ordinary council meeting on June 6 had resolved to declare wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 19 as open defecation free. rOn Wednesday, the council through a public notice has called for feedback or objection from the public on the issue within 15 days. r“In case no feedback/objections are received, then it will be presumed and assumed that the eight wards are open defecation free (ODF),” Chief Officer, Clen Madeira said. rThere are in all 20 wards in the jurisdiction of Mapusa Municipal Council. rA ward can be declared ODF if not a single person is found defecating in the open at any point of the day. Secondly, necessary infrastructure should be in place and regulatory conditions need to be followed. rIf no substantial objections are received from the public, the council will then adopt a final resolution and communicate it to the State government. rThe State government will then ensure that the claim of the council is verified by the Quality Council of India. rMMC, Chairperson, Rohan Kavlekar informed that the council had conducted a survey in all the wards in Mapusa and based on the feedback it found that eight wards were fit to be declared ODF. r“We want the public to give their feedback on the decision. It’s a process we have to follow before a final decision is taken on declaring the wards as ODF,” chairperson said. rHe said in the remaining 12 wards which have not been reported to be open defecation free, people used open fields and hilly as open defecation grounds. r“There are not many spots but one or two areas are there in every wards where people do not have toilets in their houses,” he said.