ULBs in Odisha asked to end Insanitary Toilet Practices

Chief Secretary Sri Gokul Chandra Pati has advised Urban Local Bodies in Odisha to take up special drive against insanitary toilets practices adopted by individual households and commercial establishments.

Sri Pati has given this advice while presiding over a high level meeting held in secretariat conference hall today. Secretary Housing & Urban Development Sri G. Mathivathanan, present in the meeting has been asked to issue an advisory to all ULBs in the matter with Govt approval.

Chief Secretary has directed that release of toilets wastes and sewerage to the drains be stopped and strong public opinion should be built against this practice by involving community and voluntary organisations.  The individual households be mobilized to convert all their insanitary toilets to sanitary toilets with construction of safety tanks.

Sri Pati has also advised to form special squads for field visits and impose deterrent fine against the violators, as such acts create serious health hazards. It may be pertinent to mention here that Sri Pati earlier had directed to make appropriate arrangement for maintenance and up keep of all public toilets in important cities like Sambalpur, Rourkela, Berhampur and Bhubaneswar ,the works for which are in progress.

The sewerage board has also be advised to work out 4 to 5 cost effective and eco-friendly designs for construction of both public and private toilets.  The board has been asked to expedite the process and take up 5- 10 such projects on pilot basis.  Secretary ST & SC Development Sri Surendra Kumar along with senior officers from Rural Development, Public Health and Housing & Urban Development participated in discussions.