PANAJI: Union Minister for State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has assured to make Goa ODF by October, this year.
Addressing a press conference in the presence of Parrikar and Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza, Singh said, “The Chief minister has told me that Goa will be able to declare 100 percent open defecation free by October this year. I have no doubt that not only because of the statement made by the Chief minister, but I have no doubt that the number of toilets which have to be built and other physical targets too will be met.”
Stating that one of the important concerns continues to be scientific waste management, he said, “It is therefore important that the kind of progress Goa has shown, the same be shown by other states too.”
Informing that Goa is doing very well in many aspects, he said, “For instance, in the area of affordable housing, the gap which I was told is very low.. 5000 or so. I was also told that after some technical issues are resolved, the State can declare full delivery on that scheme.”
“As far as AMRUT scheme is concerned, the utilisation of funds is very good. The number of water taps to eb installed is merely 409 which the Chief Minister said may be due to some dispute. With the kind of infrastructure and commitment that Goa has, it should be aiming for seven stars”, he said.
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UNION MINISTER
PRAISES GOA
Stating that one of the important concerns continues to be scientific waste management, Union Minister for State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said, “It is therefore important that the kind of progress Goa has shown, the same be shown by other states too.”
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