Team Herald
CURCHOREM: To achieve 100 percent Open Defecation Free (ODF) State, the government has given temporary toilets to panchayats including Assolda, Xeldem in Curchorem constituency and Avedem-Cotombi and Chaifi in Quepem constituency.
According to Assolda Sarpanch Sunita Naik, they had not asked for any community toilet, but individuals applied for it in their respective wards.
Similarly Avedem Sarpanch Alleluia Afonso said they did not ask for public toilets as people in their jurisdiction are not ready to spare their land for toilets. However, individuals have applied directly to the Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation (GSWMC) by paying necessary fees.
Xeldem Sarpanch Caitano Lima did not answer a number of phone calls. However, former Sarpanch and sitting Panch Pramod Gauns Dessai said that they got around 18 eco-toilets out of which two are permanently constructed at the panchayat ground, Tilamol. “People from the respective wards have also applied for toilets directly to the GSWMC,” he said.
When contacted, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral said that to achieve 100 percent ODF target, government has given permanent toilets in the municipal jurisdiction and temporary toilets in the panchayat area which would be replaced with permanent structure.
“Permanent toilets have been constructed in the municipal jurisdiction for the people who have applied for by paying fees and temporary toilets are provided directly to locals in the panchayat wards. The work of replacing the temporary toilets are going on and it would be completed very soon,” Cabral said.
