PANJIM: Indirectly admitting that Goa was not 100 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF), Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that if Goa would have not been declared ODF it would have been a great shame.
Replying to queries at the media briefing, Sawant said the government has taken all measures to make Goa ODF. “However, 100 per cent ODF is very difficult and almost impossible,” he said, adding, “If some migrant comes and builds a hut and you will say he has no toilet. What is the government supposed to do?”
He said the government has made efforts to provide bio toilets and also common toilets wherever required. “If Goa was not declared ODF it would
have been an insult to the State,” he said. He added that every municipality and panchayat ward has been given toilets with geo-tagging.
Further, he said, Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation, Directorate of Municipal Administration and Directorate of Panchayats are working together. “Wherever there are no toilets they have been made available,” he said.
On the allegation by Panjim Mayor Uday Madkaikar of pressurising for declaring ODF, Sawant said, “We have not pressurised anyone. People will talk, it is easy to be in opposition and criticise.”
Urgent recruitments only: CM
With recruitments continuing, despite Sawant’s circular of withdrawal of recruitment advertisements, the CM made a categorical statement that recruitment will take place as per urgent requirement only.
Replying to queries on recruitment, the CM said that at present inter departmental committee of officers (IDCO) has reviewed the year wise requirement for every department and a decision has been taken in comparison with State finances. “Whatever urgent requirement is there, only that recruitment will be done. IDCO has given its requirement for the next five years,” he said.
On some departments going ahead with the written exam he said, those advertisements were before the Staff Selection Commission was appointed and are for minor posts
Asked over the status of GMC recruitments, Sawant said, “The minister is not in town and once he is back the issue would be solved.”
