the goan I network
PANAJI
Stating that it is practically impossible to complete the difficult target that was set earlier to provide a toilet to each and every house Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the state modified the target to provide one toilet in every ward and declared the state Open Defecation Free.
Many people including the heads of some local bodies have criticised the state
being declared as ODF alleging that there were many
areas where people are
forced to defecate in the open due to non-availability of toilet facilities.
Refusing these allegations, Sawant said, “If we compare the national scenario in bigger states“ one toilet is provided in a village and the whole village has been declared open defecation free. In Goa, we had earlier decided to have toilets in 100 per cent households but it is impossible.”
If some person built a hut and by pointing at that hut you say Goa is not an ODF state, this will not work, he added.
“If we had not declared the state as ODF then it would have been a shame for our state,” the CM further stated adding that the administration has provided toilets in each ward in panchayat and municipality areas and the toilets have been geo-tagged.
The CM said that Solid waste management, Directorate of Municipal Administration, Directorate of Panchayat are working in coordination to provide toilets.
“Whoever feels that toilets are not there in their area can contact these agencies,”
he said.
When asked about the allegations made by Corporation of City of Panaji Mayor Uday Madkaikar, Sawant said that he has spoken to the Mayor and asked him to give his requests for the toilets.
It may recalled that Madkaikar had said that he was forced to sign ODF certificates with the assurance that the government would provide bio-toilets in each ward.
