PANJIM: Goa is likely to miss the October 2 deadline set by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to make the State Open Defecation Free (ODF). With the Directorate of Rural Development Agency (DRDA) yet to complete the survey, identifying the requirement of toilets, the government is likely to set a new cut-off date of December 19, to achieve ODF.
With several Ministers and MLAs raising apprehension over the partial beneficiary contribution to purchase toilets, which cost up to Rs 45,000, the government is also considering whether to give it free of cost.
After being on top of the national chart on various fronts like tourism, Smart City Mission, literacy, etc, Goa fell short of achieving Open Defecation Free status in the survey report released by the Union Ministry for Urban Development and Housing earlier this year. Goa with a population of over 14 lakh (as per 2011 census), has nearly 20 percent households without toilet facilities. At a rough estimate, the government is of the view that it requires at least 70,000 bio-digester toilets.
Highly placed sources confirmed that the government may extend the deadline to December 19 to make State Open Defecation Free. “Chief Minister’s sudden illness took a toll on the project, which was launched in February,” sources said.
As many as three agencies – DRDA, Panchayats Department and Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation (GSWMC) – are part of the project that aims at providing sanitary facilities to the people. While DRDA is entrusted with the task of conducting village level survey across all talukas, GSWMC has to undertake the tendering and procurement process, while Panchayat Department is the implementing agency.
Speaking to Herald, Panchayats Director Ajit Panchawadkar said DRDA is yet to complete the survey of all talukas. “Mormugao and Salcete taluka are yet to be completed. The survey will be completed in a week. Post that, we will submit it to the GSWMC,” he said.
He said that GSWMC will have to issue the tender for procurement of the toilets by identifying the lowest bidder. “The price of the toilets is somewhere between Rs 40,000 and 45,000 and the beneficiary will have to pay a certain percentage,” Panchawadkar said.
Bio-digester toilet technology, perfected by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), is an eco-friendly and maintenance-free system to manage human waste, which is being put to use under the Swachh Bharat Mission movement. The distribution of toilets was suppose to start in April.
When contacted, DRDA Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar said they have identified the requirement of around 70,000 toilets, most being community toilets. “With three agencies being involved, there has been lot of confusion as who will tender it, procure it and implement it,” he said.
The Minister also said that during the recent cabinet meeting the difficulties of the people to pay the beneficiary amount to purchase the toilets were pointed out. “So, government is now also exploring whether to provide these toilets free of cost, as under Central scheme, government is partially subsidized,” he explained.
The government has also failed to make the necessary budgetary provision in its recent Budget and it is likely that the project may be incorporated in the supplementary demand of grants.
