Kochi: Even though Kochi has achieved top ranking in the national-level development index, the city is yet to attain the ‘open defecation free’ status. Other civic bodies in the district have already achieved the ODF status as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission programme. Kochi was recently selected as the most prosperous city among the 20 selected Smart Cities in the country. The ranking was given based on a study conducted by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) on behalf of the Asian Development Bank. “The Corporation authorities have informed that construction of toilets in coastal and low-lying areas have not been completed,” said sources at the district Suchitwa Mission.
Meanwhile, Corporation Health Committee chairperson V.K Minimol told DC that construction of individual toilets had been completed in all the 74 divisions in the city while community toilets’ construction is pending. “Community toilets have to be constructed at densely populated and backward areas like Santhom colony, Vathuruthy and Thanthoni thuruth. We are planning to construct bio-toilets in these areas for which tenders have been invited,” she added. According to Corporation authorities, the survey to identify beneficiaries was a time consuming exercise as the initial list had several people who already have toilets.
Finalising the list of genuine beneficiaries has delayed the project. Ernakulam was declared as an ODF district in October last year with 82 grama panchayats achieving the ODF status in the first phase. In the second phase, the programme was extended to all urban local bodies and Koothattukulam was the first municipality to achieve the ODF tag followed by Maradu and other municipal corporations.
