on Saturday pulled up local governing bodies for ‘lack of will’ in achieving cent percent sanitation coverage despite funding by the State and Central governments.
GSUDA also slammed the municipal councils for their failure to provide necessary financial support to beneficiaries wanting to construct community or individual toilet facilities. “Lack of will at the grassroots level is the major hindrance in the implementation of Swacch Bharat mission in Goa,” GSUDA member secretary Elvis Gomes said.
Gomes was speaking at a workshop on ‘Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 and Sanitation’ whose objective was to review work done to accomplish the Swacch Bharat Mission goal.
“In Goa, open defecation is a major issue, which we are yet to overcome.” He added that as against the target of 8000 community toilets in urban areas, the State has not even managed to cross 3000.
“This is mainly because of lack of will from municipal bodies. Centre and State provide adequate funding to the councils but it is not reaching the beneficiaries. We don’t know where the money is going,” Gomes said.
Gomes said that under the 14th Finance Commission, so far Rs 10.55 crore have been dispersed to various councils – Rs 1.10 crore to municipalities under A category, Rs 75 lakh to B and Rs 50 lakhs to C municipalities. “We were not able to get the second installment due to inaction at ground level,” he claimed.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Urban Development Francis D’Souza wo was present said the objective of Swacch Bharat Mission can be achieved easily in Goa with the assistance of municipalities.
