Daijiworld Media Network (SR)

Panaji, Jun 16: Corporation of the city of Panaji (CCP) in its endeavor to achieve an open defecation free city (ODF) status for Panaji, has decided to build 300 toilets in the city. Sulabh international has won the contract worth Rs 1.5 Crore, to set up the toilets and they have empanelled with all the municipalities in the state.

Shashank Tripathi, CCP commissioner said at a council hearing that “The proposal has been sent to the cabinet for approval, which is expected next week. Each single-seat toilet will be built at the cost of Rs 35,000, and the project will be financed by funds from the 14th finance commission.”

As per the data released by the Union ministry of sanitation and drinking water, only 5.87% of Goa’s villages have been declared ODF, the lowest in the country. Goa is one among the last four states in the country that has failed to achieve 100% household toilet coverage in rural areas. According to the latest Swachh Bharat mission-Gramin data, Goa also has the lowest number of individual household toilets in the country. Once the Swachh Bharat mission directorate receives declaration from CCP that the city of Panaji is ODF, third-party assessor selected by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) will mobilise assessors to verify the claim within 30 days. Once the assessment is done by the third party assessor, they will be sending a detailed report to the ministry with their remarks.

If the remarks are positive then The Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs will issue an ODF certificate which needs to be renewed every six months. Mayor Uday Madkaikar said “The municipal corporation should achieve ODF status by August."