Team Herald
Porvorim: Setting a deadline, Goa Governor Dr Mridula Sinha on Tuesday said Goa should be Open Defecation Free (ODF) State by October 2, 2019. She informed the House that 53 percent of urban wards have been declared OD free.
Governor addressed the first day of the Budget session of the State Legislative Assembly amidst opposition Congress MLAs staging a walk-out from the House protesting against the failed administration and curtailed assembly session. Congress MLAs welcomed Governor with black bands on their hand.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was present during the Governor’s address that laid major emphasis towards making Goa clean and litter-free State. Sinha read out only half the address and tabled the rest of the speech.
“My Government is committed to make Goa Open Defecation Free State by October 2, 2019,” Sinha said adding that awareness camps are being held in order to educate the public.
She informed the House that as a part of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, government has converted 1125 unsanitary latrines to sanitary ones, constructed 65 community and 17 public toilets for different urban local bodied. “About 53 percent of urban wards have been declared open defecation free,” Governor added.
Urging people of Goa to give a serious thought to the matter of cleanliness to make Goa the cleanest State, Sinha said the government solicits whole hearted participation and co-operation of the people, in realizing the programme of ‘Swaach Bharat, Nital Goem”.
“I have always dreamt that Goa should be cleanest State. I am happy to mention that there has been encouraging and positive response from all the citizens in regards to the implementation of the programme” he told House.
Governor said the government has been working proactively to keep the State clean and litter-free and to ensure proper solid waste management across the State, various initiatives have been taken.
She informed the House that first state-of-art-facility functioning at Saligao is being expanded to handle 250 tonnes per day of waste.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar raised a point of order as the Governor stood to speak. Kavlekar said the Governor needs to address the woes of the opposition, who have been constantly raising concerned about failed administration.
He also said that Governor need to look into the issue of curtailed assembly session in a bid to suppress opposition voice.
