community toilet
community toilet
Ashish Kumar Gupta-Batauli. The newly constructed community toilet built under Swachh Bharat Mission in Batauli of Surguja district is turning into ruins due to irregularities in the construction work. While on one hand Surguja is getting award in Swachh Bharat Mission, on the other hand due to the negligence of Gram Panchayat, community toilets have become divided. The situation is that, except in two-four gram panchayats, toilets everywhere are telling the story of poor quality construction.
The scheme appears to be failing in 38 panchayats
It is noteworthy that under the Swachh Bharat Mission, community toilets have been constructed in 42 gram panchayats of Batauli development block with an amount of Rs 3 lakh fifty thousand in each gram panchayat. If we leave out three-four Panchayats in the construction of toilets worth crores of rupees, then this scheme of Swachh Bharat Mission has failed in the remaining 38 Gram Panchayats. Due to lack of proper maintenance, newly constructed toilets have now turned into ruins.
Crores of rupees lost in poor construction work
Due to lack of continuous monitoring by the officials during the construction of community toilets worth lakhs of rupees in 42 Gram Panchayats of the entire development block, this scheme of Swachh Bharat Mission has also failed. To distribute the sanctioned amount, the construction agency Gram Panchayat has hurriedly completed the construction work, keeping the rules in mind. And this scheme has been divided by dividing the amount. The situation is that this community toilet, built to provide facilities to the rural people, has become a showpiece due to poor construction in the entire development block. There is no arrangement for cleanliness and water and a syntax box has been installed on top of the toilet building for public display. From where not even a drop of water comes out.
No inspection done by officials
The negligence of the officials in the construction of toilets worth lakhs of rupees has come to light as they did not conduct surprise inspection of the construction work during the construction work and now the situation has become such that this construction work worth lakhs of rupees has ruined the Swachh Bharat Mission. Whereas in many Gram Panchayats, the newly constructed community toilets remain locked and have become a show piece. Even today, lack of toilets can be seen in Gram Panchayat buildings and grain distribution centres. Community toilets of Gram Panchayat Kapatbahari, Mangari, Basen, Kunkuri, Bilaspur are telling the story of poor construction and remain locked.
Funds will be stopped on poor construction – Engineer
In this regard, RES Department Engineer Parsu Ram Andilya said that community toilets are being constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission in all the Gram Panchayats of the development block. Completion certificate has been given to two-four Gram Panchayats, the amount for the remaining Gram Panchayats has not been released. He further said that the amount will be paid after completion and in case of poor construction, it will be the responsibility of the Gram Panchayat and the payment of that Panchayat will be stopped.
