MARGAO, JAN 19
It is racing against time to throw open to the public Goa’s first air conditioned toilet in the Margao Municipal garden.
But, in what might just be the tip of the ice berg, Sulabh International was caught on the wrong foot after its toilet located at the Margao old bus stand turned out the main cause behind the stink pervading the Fatima Convent School and posing health hazard to the students.
Joint inspection of the toilet block by the health and MMC officials, besides the school management and members of the PTA revealed the worst scenario. The toilet was found discharging its sewage into the storm water drain passing by the Fatima Convent, enveloping the school complex with foul odour.
If the management and PTA of Fatima Convent are to be believed, the school had been literally functioning with its doors and windows shut to keep the foul odour at bay.
The inspection unearthed toilet chambers overflowing into the storm water drain. There was on log book to record the trips made by the night soil tanker to empty the overflowing septic tanks.
Margao Urban Health Officer, Dr Kakodkar said that one cannot get any idea whether the septic tanks are cleaned or not since there is no log book.
Replying to a question, Dr Kakodkar said it is the responsibility of the Margao Municipality Council to maintain a check on the maintenance of the Sulabh toilets, saying that NOC from the health services is never obtained by the civic body before granting permission to Sulabh to construct toilets.
On the future course of action, Dr Kakodkar said the Urban Health Centre will immediately write to the Margao civic body under Section 40 of the Pubic Health Act to grant specific time frame to Sulabh to rectify the defects or will ask the civic body to shut down the toilet.
“The Health Department has not received any application from Sulabh seeking NOC to build toilets in the city”, she asserted.
PTA vice-president Dunstan D’Costa said the school was literally forced to function with its doors and windows shut to prevent the foul odour. “This environment is not conducive for the small children in the schools. The authorities should immediately take corrective measures to step the rot”, he demanded.
Dawod Matin Carol wondered how Sulabh can be so careless in managing the sewage waste when it is on its way to inaugurate Goa’s first AC toilet in the municipal garden. He demanded that the authorities should assume the responsibility over the sorry state of affairs on the sanitation front.
MMC Sanitary Inspector, Viraj Arabekar said he will submit a detailed report to the Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya to hold a hearing with the concerned parties before initiating action against the Sulabh International.
Meanwhile, Sr Marie Beatrice of Fatima Convent School said school students had been the sufferers because of foul smell and odour. “It’s not possible for the students to be in a healthy environment whey they are forced to study with closed doors and windows. The students had been facing a health hazard for too long”, she added.
Sr Marie recalled instances when school students had fainted and were taken ill because of the health hazard posed by the sewage discharge in the open drain.
Incidentally, inspection of the storm water drain revealed that other establishments and buildings were found discharging their sewage and kitchen waste in the storm water drains.
