Goa govt to install 60,000 bio-toilets under ODF-scheme: CM Parrikar
The Goa government will install 60,000 bio-toilets at a cost of Rs. 280cr to make the state open defecation free (ODF) under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told Legislative Assembly today. Parrikar, who was responding to Congress MLA Wilfred D'Sa's question, said, "State-run Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) will be tendering the purchase of the bio-toilets under this scheme by August 12."
The Directorate of Panchayat and the Rural Development Agency (RDA) would be assisting the corporation to implement the scheme. "Tenders will be floated by the corporation, but it's difficult for a single contractor to provide 60,000 toilets in two-three months, due to which we've decided to take on board seven to eight contractors," Parrikar said. Each toilet costs between Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 40,000.
Responding to a question by Opposition Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar that many of the beneficiaries under this scheme might face problems in getting NOC from their landowners, Parrikar said 70% of the beneficiaries own the land. "Wherever we find it difficult to get the land, we will construct community-toilets," he said, adding that the existing laws would be amended to obtain NOC from the landowner.
