MARGAO: Despite notices issued by the health department to two Sulabh toilets which are in unhygienic condition and operating without any permission from the department of health services, chief minister Digambar Kamat is all set to inaugurate the airconditioned toilet in the Margao municipal garden. Sulabh International has declared February 1, 2011, as the inaugural date.
Sulabh International and the Margao municipality have flouted all rules and regulations regarding the construction of a public toilet.
It was shocking to note that neither the municipality nor Sulabh International has procured any permission from the health department for the newly constructed airconditioned toilet as required under Section 29 of the Goa Health Act.
On observance the newly constructed airconditioned toilet at the Margao municipal garden it is seen that no breather pipe/vent was installed to the cesspool (soak pit tank) so also the cesspool was constructed at a distance of just 10-12 m from the well which supplies water for gardening. When this was brought to the notice of chairman of Sulabh International Sushil Kumar who was personally supervising the finishing work of the airconditioned toilets, he expressed ignorance over the existence of any well. The well is situated at the entrance of the Sulabh Toilet.
Collector Prasanna Acharya who also holds charge as chief officer of the Margao municipality said, "I will not be able to say anything until and unless I look at the file in detail whether any permission has been obtained."
Section 28 of the Goa Health Act prohibits construction of a cesspool (soak pit) within 300 feet of any tank, reservoir, watercourse or well.
"Our role is to construct, operate and maintain the public toilet. We are not concerned about any permission. It is the municipality who has to procure the necessary permissions," said Kumar.
Information revealed by health officer of the urban health centre Geeta Kakodker tells a different story. "The health department has not issued any certificate or NOC to construct and operate a public toilet. Although many public toilets are constructed neither the Margao municipality nor Sulabh International have applied for any permission," Kakodker said.
"We have never applied for any permission till date for any of the public toilets constructed," said municipal engineer Surendra D Gaonkar, who handles the technical side of the toilet construction. When attention was drawn to Section 29 of the Goa Public Health Act it was found that the municipal engineer was ignorant of the Act which says "[29. (1) 12{No person, including Government Department, semi-government organization, government company and statutory or non-statutory Corporation} shall construct any building, house, cesspool and any other structure unless prior permission to that effect is obtained from the Health Officer or the Medical Officer in charge of the respective Health Centre, at the time of starting such construction and also at the time of actually occupying such constructed premises."
It may be recalled that acting on a complaint lodged by the headmistress of the Fatima Convent High School with regards to foul smell originating from the Sulabh toilet in the vicinity; the urban health centre, Margao, and the Margao municipal council (MMC) had conducted a site inspection which revealed serious violations by the management of the Sulabh toilet regarding discharge of sewage.
Replying to the query of sewage flowing through the storm water drains Acharya said, "The soak pits are small and the water table is high. Usage is more, and the soak pits need to be emptied often. We have already issued notices to six establishments including Sulabh International. We are planning to construct one more toilet at the pick-up stand and we have requested the new market vendors to identify a place in the market where one more toilet can be constructed." (TNN)
This surely was the election Promise made by Digu to his prime Vote bank located at Monte Dongor. After work, come and relax in the AC toilets. Soon he will be building them AC apartments too, Dont be suprised ! as long as the residents of Monti Dongor guarantee him their votes again.Instead of getting the basic infrastructure like roads, traffic congestion in Margao sorted, instead of getting the water & electricity supply regularised, Digambar Kunt is inaugurating AC toilets and that too believe it or not without proper approval from the board as per media reports.
ReplyDeleteHi Renoir:::As you know , when Dickowski Kamatov,is confronted by serious issues in Goa he flies of to Delhi (Goa DESK), claiming his is there on important business.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like this is getting expensive and so he has authorised the construction of A/c toilets in Margao, as required by health laws,so he can go and sit there & cool off, instead of flying off to New Delhi.
The Residents of Moti Dongor have probably volunteered to wipe his arse and the well known Semi-educated Vigilantes of Margao Andrew F/Stormrider have offered to be his lathi holding ,security guards.
20 lakhs spent on the AC toilets to cool whose arse? Digu Kunt made the following statement at the innaugration of thse AC toilet as follows..... "I would suggest that a committee be constituted to monitor the functioning and maintenance of the toilets in public interest”, My question to Digu is what committe do you need to monitor a dam Toilet? What is the public interest you talking about? Goa is burning under your rule, it's become a law less state. How could you be so blind not to see this dis order?
ReplyDeleteThe police machinery is as good as non exsisting,murders,drugs scams, there is total disorder in the entire system and yet you & your govt claims there is progress? Please God help me to explain the meaning of progress to these fools. The public are not interested in your AC toilet Digamber Kamat. They are interested in a proper transparent democratic system where people can live in harmony, peace and freedom which you and your bunch of ministers have deprived them from.
Can someone please give Digu Kamat 1 Can /metal cup of water and then lock him up in these toilets.Soon after that, can they switch the A/c off to save on electricity.
ReplyDeleteGoa will then eran substantial sums of money from Tourism , as many will come to visit this"Human Spectacle".Ravi Naik could be locked up in the next cabin along with Churchill and MIckky.
This toilet paper of a chief minister is Fit to clean the toilets. Getting him to inaugurate it has been an error.
ReplyDelete