Margao: 01/02/ 2018 … Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar declared that the State will be made Open Defecation Free by October 2, 2018. There are more than 72,000 houses without toilets which is a serious issue and for making the State as an Open Defecation Free State, this issue has to be seriously discussed and action plan formulated, he said.
The Government will provide toilets with bio digester and solution would be worked through legal provision for houses which don’t have land to build toilet he said. Soon Police verification and toilets will be made compulsory for those who lease rooms, he remarked.
He was speaking at a awareness programme on Swachh Bharat Mission, Goa (Gramin) organised by Directorate of Panchayat in collaboration with Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation at Ravindra Bhavan Margao today.
Others present on the occasion includes MLA, Cortalim, Smt Alina Saldhana; President, South Zilla Panchayat, Shri Navnath Naik; Member, Zilla Panchayat, Smt Nelly Rodrigues; Secretary, Panchayat, Shri Sanjay Goel, IAS; Collector, South, Smt Anjali Sehrawat, IAS,; Director, Panchayat, Smt Sandhya Kamat; CEO, Zilla Panchayat, South, Shri Pandarinath Naik; Managing Director, Goa Waste Management Corporation, Shri Sanjit Rodrigues; Additional Director, Panchayat, Smt Florina Collaso and others.
Speaking further Shri Parrikar said, from June onwards he will conduct Taluka wise meetings to discuss sewage, garbage and open defecation issues which are linked with environment, hygiene and tourism. Governments have planned four more garbage treatment plants in State he informed.
He said Government alone can’t find a solution for garbage issue. Government can be a facilitator by providing facilities and funds but each one has to shoulder their own responsibilities. Government is looking out for the land where Construction waste can be brought and recycled. Government is very much serious about all this aspects. Determination of elected representatives and the people at large need to back it. Government is putting all its efforts to make State garbage and open defecation free which require support from every citizen, he added.
While appreciating resolutions taken by various Gram Sabhas in connection with river nationalisation, coal pollution, Mhadei and many other issues which are definitely important for the State, Shri Parrikar felt that for a Grampanchayat the issues of garbage, open defecation and sewage treatment are actual ground problems which no one can escape. Concentrated dedicated efforts with passion are required to solve these problems he said.
Government cannot succeed unless people participate in these issues. People participation is very important. We have to work out solution for every problem the State is facing. Garbage, open defecation and sewage treatment are serious issues. Everyone has to take this issue as a mission of self, he pointed.
He said, Government is working out modalities to dispose segregated and dry garbage scientifically. Wet garbage is not a real serious problem. The lifestyle of society is changing. The type of garbage we will have to handle will go on increasing and the problem will go on multiplying. Let us unite together to address the serious issue of garbage and open defecation problems he urged.
Smt Sandhya Kamat, Shri Sanjit Rodrigues, Shri Parag Nagarshekar and Shri Richard Dias made presentation and spoke about Swachh Bharat Mission Goa (Gramin), waste management scenario in Goa and future plans, community based solid waste management and problems with mixed waste at the garbage treatment plant respectively.
Question and answer session was also held on the occasion.
Shri Navnath Naik welcomed the gathering while Smt Florina Collaso proposed vote of thanks. Shri Girish Velguenkar compared the programme.
