Warangal: A look at the situation in the districts shows the authorities have failed to bring about a change in the mindset of the rural people about defecating in the open. The ODF project was taken up as part of the Centre’s Swachh Bharath campaign and was aimed at stopping outdoor defecation.
However, work on the project is crawling at a very slow pace making it impossible for achieving the target by August 10. The ODF cities are to be announced on August 15.
In Warangal Urban district, 17,824 applications for construction of ISLs were received. Of these, 14,063 were expedited and 3,761 ISLs are yet to be constructed.
GWMC officials say they are taking steps to finish the remaining ISLs within the target. Mayor N. Narender has announced works worth '5 lakh to those contractors who completed construction of 50 ISLs.
GWMC commissioner Sruthi Ojha said they would complete the target at any cost by August 10. “Daily reviews are being conducted on the progress of the construction of ISLs in each division. We are effectively handling the obstacles we are facing while constructing ISLs. We will be soon ready to declare Warangal city as ODF,” she said.
However, the biggest obstacle for the GWMC comes in the form of insanitary toilets. More than 6,000 insanitary toilets have been identified in the city.
Even if the target of ISLs is achieved, the city cannot be declared ODF unless the insanitary toilets are converted.
GWMC officials have asked the owners of these toilets to convert them into sanitary toilets by digging sanitary pits but very few have responded. The GWMC warned them that electricity and water supply in such houses would be cut if they do not meet the requirements of ISL.
In Jangaon district, delay in clearing ISLs bills is delaying the work. As many people who constructed ISL still did not receive the payment, others are not coming forward to apply.
