PONDA: Goa may have been officially declared open defecation free State, but it is surprising and shocking to note that people have no access to toilets still. A classic example of this is the 24-seater toilet complex at Shapur, Bandora, which has been closed down suddenly forcing around 600 migrants residing in the congested slum area to defecate into the open in the forest area.
The locals complained that the open defecation by migrants in the area poses a health risk.
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The residents of the slum area said they cannot afford to construct toilets as there is no land. They protested against this injustice and urged the PWD Minister to solve the issue at the earliest.
Former sarpanch Rajesh Naik said, “The foundation stone for the 24-seater toilet complex was laid in 2016 and inaugurated in 2017. After its inauguration, around 600 people from 200 families residing in the slum area were using this toilet free of cost and there was an attendant looking after its maintenance. The attendant was paid a mere salary of Rs 9,000 per month. However, PWD used to sanction money. Everything ran smoothly for five years but the toilet complex was closed for the past two months.”
“With no salary, there is no one to look after maintenance work, the toilet complex started to stink and the government was forced to shut. Now, the residents have started to defecate in jungle areas which poses a health risk,” Rajesh said.
The former sarpanch said the after PWD stopped the maintenance of the toilet complex he along with other officials managed to run the toilet by spending money from his pocket.
He urged the PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral to make provision of Rs 25,000 for the maintaining the said toilet complex including the attendant’s salary.
He said the government decided to go in for pay toilet but the poor slum residents, who are daily wage workers, cannot afford to pay and are forced to defecate into the open places.
Questioning government’s Swachh Bharat mission, he asked, “If the government cannot spend on the toilet maintenance, is it is possible to maintain cleanliness in the area?
