Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SR)

Panaji, Sep 5: Vasco police, in a joint operation with Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), booked 40 open defecation cases in three days. While MMC has declared Mormugao as Open Defecation Free, there are people who still prefer to relieve themselves in the open rather than using the newly constructed toilets.

As reported in TOI, Nandadeep Raut, chairperson of MMC said, “Beach areas are one of our biggest challenges with trawler and boat-workers defecating in the open. Railway tracks and other open places are also a problem." Beggars and migrants have also been booked for defecating in the open.

As per the report, six-seater mobile toilets have been set up in beach areas like Khariawado and MMC has approved 235 toilets for individual houses, 142 are in process while permission for 250 have been sent. Permission for new toilets have been made hassle-free by the municipality and people are helped with funds for construction, if they have enough space at home. Old toilet units under municipalities are repaired and new toilets are constructed at various places. Authorities have urged ward councillors to encourage people in their ward to build toilets if necessary and to help people with permission.