Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Involve communities in sanitation projects’

Bangalore: Former Chairman of the Legislative Council B.K. Chandrashekar has said that toilets constructed by various government agencies are being used as storerooms in many villages.

Participating in a seminar, “People’s participation in sanitation solutions,” organised in Bangalore on Saturday, Prof. Chandrashekar said such a situation had arisen for two reasons — one, the Government failed to provide adequate water at these toilets and the other was that construction was taken up without consulting those for whom the toilets were meant for.

He called upon policy-makers and bureaucrats to work with the community to achieve better results before launching any scheme aimed at improving the standard of life among the urban and rural poor.

Prof. Chandrashekar pointed out that sewage from the Bangalore Central Jail was being let out into a nearby water body, and now the authorities were working on setting up water treatment units.

In his presentation, C.G. Suprasanna, Joint Director, Department of Administration, admitted to the lack of proper operation and maintenance of water and sanitation services at many places.

Mr. Suprasanna said that Community Participation Law and Public Disclosure Law as mandated in the implementation of community orientated projects were under the consideration of the Government.

He said that 25 per cent of the houses of urban poor had no toilets, while the underground drainage coverage was only 30 per cent in the State.

Also, only 40 per cent of the sewage was treated before it was let out into the drains.

Meanwhile, a clause in the State’s policy on sanitation — to ensure universal coverage of water and sanitation services that people want and are willing to pay for — has drawn criticism. Some participants such as Kshitij Urs of Action Aid alleged that the State’s policy was drafted by private companies that were engaged by the Government for maintaining water services.

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