Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : Nagar Panchayat, Koelwar in Bhojpur district, has been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) zone without construction of lavatory in every house.
Under the Chief Minister’s ‘Seven Resolution’ at least 1,863 lavatories were to be constructed under Koelwar Nagar Panchayat before declaring it ODF but 180 lavatories are to be yet to be constructed. Yet, a communication declaring the area ODF was sent to the Urban Development and Housing Department in July 2018.
Sunita Devi, Ward Councilor, Ward No 14, Koelwar Nagar Panchayt, mocked at the false claim of the Executive Officer, Koelwar Nagar Panchayat, and said that only 20 lavatories out of targeted 200 had been constructed under her ward so far. She claimed that 180 lavatories out of targeted 1,863 lavatories were yet to be constructed under Koelwar Nagar Panchayat.
Besides, 1,025 beneficiaries were given fund at the rate of Rs 12,000 each for construction of lavatories while 838 beneficiaries were given only first installment of Rs 7,500 each. About Rs 1.86 crore has been spent on the construction of lavatories so far while Rs 37.71 lakh is yet to be given to 838 beneficiaries as second installment.
Executive Officer, Koelwar Nagar Panchayat, Arun Safi, said that Koelwar Nagar Panchayat was declared ODF two months ago. Mobile lavatories were purchased online through a government website ‘gmportal’ for people living on railway land but the people refused to accept them. He further said that construction of lavatories on the railway land is illegal and grant for lavatory can’t be given to them and so no lavatory has so far been made there and provision for mobile toilets has been made for the people living there.
Sunita Devi, ward councilor, said that the present Executive Officer had transferred the amount for the construction of lavatories into the bank account of 20 beneficiaries but now he was talking about mobile toilets. She demanded the construction of 180 lavatories on the same ground.
Binod Kumar, Chief Councilor, Koelwar Nagar Panchayat, said that the Koelwar Nagar Panchayat did not fulfil criteria required for declaring it ODF.
Residents of Ward No 14, who are living on the railways land by constructing their homes, said that water taps and PCC roads had been provided and several lavatories were also constructed earlier on the railway land.