Team Herald
MARGAO: Margao residents backed by the Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) organised a symbolic protest strongly criticising the authorities, including the local MLAs, for failing to provide clean and hygienic public toilets in the State commercial capital.
The Shadow Council said that the condition of the public toilets all in Margao city is so poor that the authorities concerned deserve strong condemnation for the same.
Earlier, Herald had highlighted the sorry state of Sulabh Sauchalayas in the city through the Margao Page. Taking cognizance of the report, the Shadow Council has decided to take up the issue with the authorities to improve the condition of the toilets.
The Shadow Council planted a coconut sapling in the city Saturday to highlight the issue and to see whether the toilets are renovated first, or the sapling yields coconuts first.
The Shadow Council has alleged that leaders controlling the MMC have miserably failed to even effectively utilize the Swatch Bharat funds for maintenance of public toilets. Funds were allotted for the renovation of four public toilets, in Margao constituency. However, the renovation work hasn’t commenced on any one of them.
The Shadow Council has said that it has become a habit for the authorities to systematically dump their responsibilities on NGO’s and for the condition of the sulab toilets. The Sulab International is the best bet for the authorities to camouflage their failures.
“Are the authorities like the local MLAs, MMC, PWD etc in no way equally responsible for the present state of the public toilets?” the Shadow Council questioned.
“The Government and local MLAs get all the support and funds for laying hot-mix carpets for roads year after year. And this is exhibited with pride by our MLAs, by breaking coconuts all over the town. So, what hurdles are they facing in getting funds for the proper upkeep of the public toilets?” the Shadow Council convener Savio Coutinho pondered.
The Toilet behind Bal Bhavan is one of the many public toilets of which renovation was announced by the Margao MLA, by breaking of coconuts, not just once but three times. But its condition can be seen clearly.
There are 26 public toilets within the Margao municipal jurisdiction. Out of the 26, two are under the SGPDA and one is under the tourism department. The balance 23 are under the MMC. Of the 23, four are given by the MMC to the Sulab International for a meagre compensation of Rs 3500 per month per complex. Eight of 26 complexes appear to be generating income to the Sulab International as such we find their personnel maintaining the same (though not upto the mark), the balance 18 are in the interior of the wards and as such probably do not generate income for the maintenance.
Interestingly, only one out of all the 26 sulab toilets, is connected to septic tanks and soak pits which have to be empted regularly — a costly affair. The fact remains that most of the toilets are outdated and require major upgradation.
Those attended the protest include Radha Kavlekar, Agostinho Gama, Laurel Abranches, Edward Lourence, John Gonsalves and Elvis Fernandes.
Under the circumstances it is the responsibility of the authorities specially the respective MLA’s to avail sufficient funds for the proper upkeep and up gradation of the toilets. The SCM therefore demands that all the concerned authorities, specially the respective MLA’s devote their attention to the conditions of the public toilets.
