Semiliguda: Under Swachh Bharat Mission’s anti-open defecation campaign, Tema village under this block in Koraput district were allotted funds to construct 46 toilets. However, many have been left abandoned halfway through the construction stage. Meant to be toilets, these structures are now being used as kitchens and store rooms which basically point to the fact that the campaign has failed here.
Local residents alleged that the money meant for toilet construction has been siphoned off by the contractors in collusion with government officials.
Under the programme, some community toilets were also to be built. The villagers had then been hopeful that their village would soon be free from open defecation. But that did not happen.
From the beginning, the villagers saw that construction of the toilets was being carried out with sub-standard materials. They complained about it. But the contractors, allegedly with the backing of some government administrative officers, did not care. The end result was appalling. Some toilets have no pans, some no walls and some are without doors, alleged locals.
“We pointed out to the contractors and sub-contractors that construction was of poor quality but to no avail,” alleged beneficiaries like Arjun Hantal, ward member Laxman Sagaria, Guru Khila and others.
“If there is no pan and door, how we can use them as toilets? So we have converted them into kitchens and store rooms to at least utilise the structures,” they added.
They further alleged that concerned block level officers and the contractors had embezzled money from the project. Locals have demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter and demanded stringent action against erring officials and contractors.
PNN