In a bid to make Punjab free from open defecation, Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved a pilot project to be executed by the Sulabh International Social Service Organization (SISSO) for the construction of 15000 rural latrines at a cost of Rs.27.75 crore in Adampur block in Doaba, Ajnala in Majha and Sanaur & Lambi blocks in Malwa within a year under the integrated development program.
A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal in a meeting with the founder of the SISSO Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak here at Chief Minister’s office this morning.
It may be recalled that the Punjab government has decided to construct 12 lakh rural latrines in 12800 villages across the state through Mandi Board, PWD (B&R), Water Supply & Sanitation, and Rural Development & Panchayats Departments of which nearly one lakh latrines had been already been constructed.
The Chief Minister was apprised in the meeting by the Financial Commissioner Rural Development & Panchayats Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu that the department had already entrusted the task of fresh survey to the department to ascertain the exact status of the rural latrines to be constructed under the uncovered blocks. Mr. Badal highly appreciated the efforts of the SISSO in the field of rural sanitation and biogas in the country as well as in the abroad. He also urged Dr. Pathak to prepare an action plan to install biogas plants in the villages to make judicious use of heaps of cow/buffalo dung lying across the roads there which were posing a severe threat to the environment.
The Chief Minister also desired to allot the work of public toilets in the Corporation cities of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda and asked the Local Government department to tie up with SISSCO in this behalf. He also asked Mr. Pathak to suggest some viable technology for cleaning of village ponds which were hazardous to the environment but also to the very health of the human beings.
Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Pathak thanked the Chief Minister for reposing faith and confidence in SISSCO and assured of best quality norms and standards in the construction of rural latrines besides undertaking guarantee for their upkeep and maintenance for one year. He also stressed the need to educate people especially living in the rural areas about the personal hygiene and cleanliness in context of the rural latrines, adding he mentioned that SISSO would motivate them to develop a habit to use these latrines, who in turn would prevail upon others to popularize the concept of rural latrines. He also
Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Financial Commissioner Rural Development & Panchayats Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, Secretary Sanitation & Water Supply Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Director Rural Development & Panchayats Mr. Balwinder Singh Multani besides Mr. KJS Cheema, Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Mr. KS Pannu all Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister.