mangalore today

Gram panchayats in DK to get ‘Swacchhastra’ plants


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 29, 2018: The DK  District Water and Sanitation Committee approved  setting up ‘Swacchhastra’ units for scientific disposal of dry waste that decays in soil and a few solid wastes, like plastic, in 52 Gram Panchayats in the district.

 

Gram panchayat...


In a meeting chaired by Zilla Panchayat President Meenakshi Shanthigodu, the sanitation officials placed the proposal. The meeting approved setting up of the units in 12 clusters of the district. It was decided to set up the units in those Gram Panchayats where a large quantity of waste is generated, on a pilot basis. Such units have already been implemented in a few areas, including Kasargod district, in Kerala.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr M R Ravi said City Centre Mall in the city has such a unit.

“We have inspected its functioning. The cost of each unit is Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Subrahmanya Gram Panchayat has come forward to instal the unit using its own resources. The units will be set up in 51 Gram Panchayats which face the problem of garbage dumping beside the national highway in Mangaluru and Bantwal taluk,” he said.

The committee also approved a proposal to set up five units under Gobardhan scheme.

The scheme focuses on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste from farms and fields to useful compost and biogas. In the first phase, one unit in each taluk will be set up on a pilot basis.

Ravi said that the units will be set up in those villages where 150 households are situated at one area. Bio gas will be supplied to all the households. Land has been identified at Malavoor in Mangaluru, Hosangady in Belthangady, Kabaka in Puttur and Aletti in Sullia taluks. The land is yet to be identified in Bantwal taluk for the purpose, he added.

The members experessed displeasure over delay in the construction of public toilets beside the national highway at Gundya. The proposal has been pending for the last three years.

The committee decided to earmark funds for only new drinking water projects during the year. The earmarking of the funds for the spillover works was opposed.

Zilla Panchayat President Meenakshi Shanthigodu, Vice President Kasturi Panja and Standing Committee Chairman Janardhan Gowda expressed displeasure at the failure of the officials to utilise the grants from the Central government. “The officials have failed to furnish details on pending toilets. According to the social audit report, several thousands of households do not have toilets. When the district will be free from open defecation in real sense?”