In ODF Goa, no data on open defecation in urban areas

PANAJI: Goa was officially declared an open defecation free (ODF) state in September 2019, but while it is not surprising to find people with no access to toilets still, what is concerning is the lack of government data on the number of homes without lavatories.
The government had an interesting reply to give during the recently held monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly when urban development minister Milind Naik was questioned if he was aware that open defecation still happens in municipal areas.
“No information was available about open defecation in municipal areas,” Naik stated in his written reply.
While most municipalities provided information about the number of houses in their respective jurisdictions with toilet facilities, Margao Municipal Council had no data. It has been asked to conduct a survey and provide an individual household latrine (IHHL) to every household.
An official from the urban development department said that the Margao municipality has not been able to complete the task of providing latrines to those households under the government scheme where applicants have not been able to make available space for setting up the facility.
“Wherever space is a problem, we are going for community toilets. The problem has been in areas that are congested, and no space is available for building toilets,” the official said.
He said the scheme is still open and those who do not have toilets can apply. In all other municipal areas the work has been completed.
Similarly, the Mapusa Municipal council also does not have data on the number of houses in its jurisdiction that have toilets with the septic tank.
Under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), as per service level benchmark, 85% of the area is covered under sewerage network services and as per the Census 2011, as many as 3,840 households have toilets with a septic tank.
The officer said there may be some exceptions, but it is seen that even people who give spaces on rent in shanties provide toilet facilities for their tenants. Builders are also required to provide sanitary facilities for labourers who stay on construction sites. A sanitary inspector regularly conducts inspections, he said.
However, a citizen Praveen Naik (name changed) said that except for big real estate agencies, smaller contractors do not provide their labourers with toilets. “Open defecation is common at such sites. Workers bathe along the road ride and throw waste in the open. The civic bodies collect the waste of registered residence. Any guesses where that waste must be going?” Naik said.