VALPOI
After being directed by health authorities to avoid defecating near water bodies, residents in Shelpe village of Sattari taluka have now expressed unwillingness to shell out as much as Rs 30,000 which they incur in building toilets of their own. With poor water supply in their area it almost impossible for them to set up makeshift toilets near their homes.
As many as 90% of villagers in Shelpe do not have toilet facilities and are unwilling to bear 50% of the cost of a new toilet under the government's toilet scheme.
The recent incident of many residents from Shelpe-Nagargao falling ill and the finding that they were consuming water contaminated in local water bodies on account of
open defecation had led health officials to direct villagers not to use water from tributaries for drinking and other purposes.
Speaking to The Goan, locals complained that the government toilet scheme was of no use to them, on account of exorbitant costs to build a toilet.
"There had been a Sulabh toilet scheme for BPL families for many years, but the government stopped the free toilet facility," said a local.
Last year, the State government came out with a new toilet scheme, offering a 50% subsidy to locals to build their toilets.
"The cost of building a toilet is nearly Rs 60,000 and we cannot afford to shell out Rs 30,000, if we get a 50% subsidy," the local added.
When contacted, a civil contractor, Abbas Khan
from Valpoi, estimated that a toilet with basic amenities would cost about Rs 60,000, due to rising costs of construction.
"The rate of sand is about Rs 1,700 per cubic metre, while the laterite stone is priced at about Rs 20 per stone, cement (Rs 375/bag) and toilet (Rs 4,000)," Khan told The Goan.
"If we calculate the construction costs, The total cost to construct a toilet would work out to 10 bags of cement (Rs 3,750), 15 cubic metres of sand (Rs 25,500), 400 laterite stones (Rs 8,000), toilet (Rs 4,000), miscellaneous expenses (Rs 8,000) and masons (Rs 12,000). As such, total would work out to about Rs 61,250," informed Khan.
"Even if the government provides a 50% subsidy, locals of Shelpe village would have to pay the balance of Rs 30,000 to build their toilets," Khan added.
Unwilling to foot the bill for a toilet, residents of Shelpe have asked authorities to provide a free toilet
facility scheme in the village to prevent an outbreak of illnesses.
"Residents from not only Shelpe village, but many parts of Sattari taluka, do not have toilet facilities. The government should seriously look into this issue and come out with a free toilet scheme," said a villager, Rama Chorlekar.
After being directed by health authorities to avoid defecating near water bodies, residents in Shelpe village of Sattari taluka have now expressed unwillingness to shell out as much as Rs 30,000 which they incur in building toilets of their own. With poor water supply in their area it almost impossible for them to set up makeshift toilets near their homes.
As many as 90% of villagers in Shelpe do not have toilet facilities and are unwilling to bear 50% of the cost of a new toilet under the government's toilet scheme.
The recent incident of many residents from Shelpe-Nagargao falling ill and the finding that they were consuming water contaminated in local water bodies on account of
open defecation had led health officials to direct villagers not to use water from tributaries for drinking and other purposes.
Speaking to The Goan, locals complained that the government toilet scheme was of no use to them, on account of exorbitant costs to build a toilet.
"There had been a Sulabh toilet scheme for BPL families for many years, but the government stopped the free toilet facility," said a local.
Last year, the State government came out with a new toilet scheme, offering a 50% subsidy to locals to build their toilets.
"The cost of building a toilet is nearly Rs 60,000 and we cannot afford to shell out Rs 30,000, if we get a 50% subsidy," the local added.
When contacted, a civil contractor, Abbas Khan
from Valpoi, estimated that a toilet with basic amenities would cost about Rs 60,000, due to rising costs of construction.
"The rate of sand is about Rs 1,700 per cubic metre, while the laterite stone is priced at about Rs 20 per stone, cement (Rs 375/bag) and toilet (Rs 4,000)," Khan told The Goan.
"If we calculate the construction costs, The total cost to construct a toilet would work out to 10 bags of cement (Rs 3,750), 15 cubic metres of sand (Rs 25,500), 400 laterite stones (Rs 8,000), toilet (Rs 4,000), miscellaneous expenses (Rs 8,000) and masons (Rs 12,000). As such, total would work out to about Rs 61,250," informed Khan.
"Even if the government provides a 50% subsidy, locals of Shelpe village would have to pay the balance of Rs 30,000 to build their toilets," Khan added.
Unwilling to foot the bill for a toilet, residents of Shelpe have asked authorities to provide a free toilet
facility scheme in the village to prevent an outbreak of illnesses.
"Residents from not only Shelpe village, but many parts of Sattari taluka, do not have toilet facilities. The government should seriously look into this issue and come out with a free toilet scheme," said a villager, Rama Chorlekar.
