Jajpur/Jajpur Road: Open defecation in Vyasanagar town in Jajpur district, the gateway to Kalinganagar industrial hub, has robbed the town of its sheen, a report said Saturday.
It seems that the town with a population of 1.5 lakh people is miles away from Swacch Bharat as many do not mind defecating in the open, the report said.
The Centre sponsored scheme has proved to be a complete failure in the area with people defecating by the roadside.
The matter came out after former chairperson Bandita Parida of Vyasanagar Municipality submitted a memorandum to the Collector. She said the inability of the government in implementing schemes has led to accumulation of crores with the civic body.
The civic body has around Rs 2.75 crore lying with it which was sanctioned for the construction of Kalyan Mandap, mini stadium and houses for the poor, she said.
Open defecation is not a stray incident in the town as people can be seen defecating by the roadside near the Indira Gandhi Women’s College.
The girl students of the college could be seen covering their faces with scarves while moving on the road due to the stink emanating from the place. This happened due to the negligence of the district administration and the civic body.
Sources said that around over four lakh of the eight lakh families living in Jajpur district do not have latrines.
The Centre launched Swacch Bharat Abhiyan to end open defecation by constructing latrines in the houses of all families.
There were plans to build around 3,63,140 toilets between 2014 and 2020 in the houses of the district’s residents who do not have funds. However, only 1.5 lakh toilets have been built so far.
The problem is acute in Vyasanagar town. Sources in Jajpur Road Municipality said funds for the construction of 1,099 latrines were sanctioned under the Awas Yojana. However, only 275 latrines have been built so far.
While construction of 30 latrines is going on, that of 836 latrines has been cancelled. Similarly, the construction of 834 latrines has been completed, although funds for 1,016 latrines were sanctioned under the Integrated Housing Scheme (IHS).
As a result, the residents of Ghatiasahi, Natapada, Sapagadia, Mundamal, Dahisahi, Khandahata, Chandma and Hudisahi continue to defecate under the sky. The civic body has failed to take steps regarding this despite being aware of the situation.
Executive Officer Mohan Jena said people are being sensitised and provided with funds for the construction of latrines. However, they are not obeying and are defecating in the open, he added.
PNN