PORVORIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday admitted on the Floor of the House that though Goa has been certified as open defecation free (ODF), all the households are yet to be provided with individual toilets.
Sawant said that before the coming monsoon, 18,518 bio-toilets would be constructed across the State, as per the requirement.
“I agree, we have declared the State as ODF. But we have not been able to give individual toilets. In order to declare the State as ODF, we have put up toilets in each ward to ensure that people are provided with the facility,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government has charged Rs 2,500 from the general category, while for ST and SC members the charges are Rs 1,000 per toilet. The total cost of the toilet is Rs 58,184, he said.
He also said that once the toilets are provided, the contractor will have to ensure its maintenance for a certain period.
Sawant was responding to a question by Congress MLA Ravi Naik, who pointed out the failure of the government to provide individual toilets to each household.
Meanwhile, Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo said the government has shortlisted the contractor and the work order has also been issued. “By May, we will cover entire State with 18,000 toilets,” he said.
