CCP declares Panaji ODF, but over 300 toilets yet to come up

Panaji: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), at its council meeting on Monday, declared itself open defacation free ( ODF ). Commissioner Shashank Tripathi said the 310 toilets would be built in the capital city by Diwali.

CCP is among 14 urban local bodies in Goa to declare themselves ODF, but the self-declaration will be verified by an independent agency appointed by the Centre, officials with the department of urban development said.

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“CCP has declared Panaji ODF,” said mayor Uday Madkaikar. “The toilets will be built right from Dona Paula to Ribandar. If we had to tender it, we would have lost a month’s time in formalities, but the contract is with Sulabh International. We have sent a revised estimate to the government to include flooring tiles for the toilets. Once this is approved, we will immediately give the contract to Sulabh International. If the government feels that 310 toilets are not enough, we will request it for more in the future.”

The list of wards that require toilets was given by each corporator. This was followed by a survey by CCP engineers.

The Narendra Modi-government has set a deadline of October 2 for the entire nation to declare itself ODF. CM Pramod Sawant had informed the assembly on August 1 that Goa would become ODF by August 31.