Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Jairam Ramesh, who is spearheading a drive to gain Nirmal status for the state, will visit Karumkulam panchayat in the district on Sunday. Karumkulam, a densely populated place in Athiyannor block in Neyyatinkara taluk, is posing a major hurdle for achieving 100-per cent sanitation status.
The Union Minister is visiting the place to review the sanitation measures in the area. Recently, a cholera case was reported from the panchayat, where open defecation is a common practice.
Ahead of the Minister’s visit, Suchitwa Mission officials reviewed the progress of construction of toilets in Karumkulam panchayat on Wednesday. “Works to gain 100- per cent sanitation are progressing. Our target is construction of 1,700 toilets. Around 1,500 toilets are in various stages of construction. Around 850 toilets are nearing completion,” said George Chakkacherry, executive director, Suchitwa Mission.
Suchitwa Mission has roped in a Kolkata-based firm for construction of bio-toilets on some stretches of the coastal area, where construction of toilets is not possible. Around 100 bio-toilets are expected to come up in the area. In addition to this, the Suchitwa Mission is engaged in renovation of existing toilets.
Among the 19 panchayats in the state which lack sufficient toilet facilities, five are in Thiruvananthapuram district. However, except Karumkulam, the others, Madavoor, Kilimanoor, Vettoor and Vakkom, are ready to gain the Nirmal Gram status.
A team from Union Ministry will visit the state, probably in November or December, to inspect the sanitation situation in the state. If 100-per cent sanitation is achieved, the state will be second after Sikkim to be declared a ‘Nirmal state.’
