the goan I network
MARGAO
As stakeholders are bracing up to commemorate World Toilet Day on November 19, a host of questions have come to the fore whether authorities, including the Margao Municipal Council, have finalized additional public toilets it requires for its various wards if it is going to meet the Open Defecation Free (ODF) target for its various wards.
Upgradation of the existing public toilets spread across the commercial capital is another question that will come to haunt the local Civic body, besides other stakeholders, including the Tourism department, manning the toilet block at the KTC bus stand.
Leave alone the public toilets owned by the Margao Municipal Council and maintained by Sulabh
International, sanitation seemed not up to the mark even in government buildings, including the Margao Police station, district Collectorate etc for want of proper maintenance. While a visit to the Margao police station would unearth insanitary conditions in the toilets, including the lady toilet block, it’s not uncommon to hear complaints of the stinking environment in the toilets in the district Collectorate, South.
A senior Sulabh official told The Goan that many a public toilet owned by the Margao Municipality, but maintained by the agency, is in dire need of upgradation. “Most of these toilets were built more than a decade ago and has outlived its utility. They need to be upgraded on top priority”, the official said, adding that the Margao Municipal Council should take a call on the question of upgrading the 20-odd toilet blocks spread in the commercial capital.
GOACAN secretary Lorna Fernandes sought to know whether the MMC has learnt a lesson from the episode wherein a lady in protest of the dirty & non-maintained toilet decided to urinate on the MMC inspector’s chair in Gandhi Market and was arrested and sent to Aguada Jail.
She said the Inspector Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Margao should step in and take action to
redress the grievances of the consumers facing unclean toilets & overcharging at various public toilets.
“Are the guidelines prepared by the Urban Health Centre (UHC) being implemented after the
intervention by GOACAN with the Dy Collector in 2016? Are the Sanitary Inspectors of MMC & UHCs undertaking surprise checks”, she demanded to know.
Lorna further demanded to whether the Deputy Collector is going to call the next review follow up
meeting on the situation of public toilets in Margao & Cutbona Jetty. And, she asked whether
the District Magistrate Dr Tariq Thomas would step in and call for a wider meeting of stakeholders so that the commercial capital will meet its ODF deadline.
