Kochi sprints towards open defecation free tag, works in final phase

Kochi: Despite the delay and poor performance in implementing the total sanitation project, Kochi city is slowly marching forward to achieve the target of open defecation free city. If the current progress is any indication, the city is likely to achieve the ODF tag by May. “As per the state government’s instruction, we will be closing the activities of the total sanitation project by April 30. The 1,950 applications received so far will be cleared. Total sanitation project works have been completed in 36 divisions already,” said V.K Minimol, health committee chairperson.

The civic body cannot conduct a resurvey to identify fresh beneficiaries as it has to comply with the time schedule stipulated by the State Suchitwa Mission. “However, councillors are submitting recommendations in this regard,” she added. However, most of the municipalities in the district have already achieved ODF status. “Only Kochi Corporation and Piravom municipality are the two civic bodies which have not completed the project,” said Suchitwa Mission district coordinator Siju Thomas.

According to Kochi Corporation authorities, the survey to identify beneficiaries was a time consuming exercise as the initial list had several people who have toilets already. Due to the delay in finalizing the beneficiary list, the Corporation had to request the government to extend the deadline for implementing the project by three months. The deadline set by the Union government to achieve the ODF goal was March 31.