PANJIM: After failing to meet the October 2 deadline, Goa that tops the chart of having the lowest Open Defecation Free (ODF) coverage in the country will miss the second deadline of December 19 to achieve the objective. With the bio-digester toilet technology, perfected by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), installed in railway coaches, public places, under question over its functioning, the State government’s process has been held up over finalisation of the technology for the toilets.
“The tendering process has been held up over non-finalisation of the technology. As soon as that is cleared, the tender will be floated by GSWMC and the Directorate of Panchayat and Municipal Administration will distribute it to the beneficiaries,” Swacch Bharat Mission Director Rajan Satardekar told Herald.
The State is now looking at achieving ODF before the national deadline of October 2, 2019. The total ODF coverage of the State is only 5.87 per cent, and Goa is the only State where the success rate is less than 10 per cent.
“We want to achieve the target before the national deadline of October 2, 2019. Our aim is to get it done before the end of ongoing financial year,” he added. The Director said that 60,000 toilets are required, which will cost Rs 50,000 per toilet. “The total expenditure is around Rs 300 crore,” Satardekar said.
Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation (GSWMC), the nodal implementing agency, has approached the Union Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs seeking clarification on the concerns raised over the DRDO developed bio-digester toilets, which the State wanted to adopt.
GSWMC Managing Director Sanjit Rodrigues confirmed that they have approached the Union Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs on the DRDO toilet technology issue. “Some scientists and experts have raised concern over the functioning of the technology. Hence, we thought of seeking clarification before finalising it,” he said.
Sources revealed that as per some media reports these toilets are no better than holding tanks. Claims that human excreta is broken up into gases (methane) and liquid by using a compound of bacterium obtained from Antarctica are not based on scientific data.
“If, according to claims, methane is being produced, this is a problem as methane is a hazardous and inflammable material. If methane is not getting produced, it means that no biological treatment is happening in the toilet tanks, in any case. Both ways it is a problem,” sources said.
Department of Urban Development had in August, drafted a scheme for supply and installation of bio-digester toilets in the State. “The objective of this scheme is to achieve Open Defecation Free Goa by December 19, 2018, by providing bio digester toilets to the eligible persons,” Urban Development Secretary R Menaka had said in a notification issued.
