Sanitary schemes not properly implemented in Lakhimpur

LAKHIMPUR, Feb 19: At a time when the people of the State as well as the tion have become aware of sanitation and hygiene, sanitation schemes have not been successful in Lakhimpur. Though the district administration has vowed to make the district open defecation free, sanitary latrines constructed under sanitation schemes have been left half-constructed or not constructed at all. On the other hand, those latrines which were constructed have started to decay before they are used.

As per report, a total of 1,20,317 sanitary latrines, estimated with a fund of Rs. 12,000 each, are targeted to be constructed in the district under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) within March 31, 2018. But the Public Health and Engineering (PHE) Department, which is the implementing agency of the schemes, constructed only a nomil percentage of the target. There is no possible to complete construction of the rest within the stipulated time.

A source informed that very few such latrines will be constructed in the Telahi, Nowboicha and Lakhimpur Development Blocks out of the nine blocks of the district. Contrary to it, the department concerned has spent crores of the fund with a view to create awareness on sanitation among the mass. 

Further, it is alleged that the Lakhimpur division of PHE Department has sanctioned the due funds to NGOs which have got the contact to construct the latrines, without monitoring and reviewing the implementation works. In this regard, the Lakhimpur district unit of Hindu Yuva Parishad expressed strong reaction and submitted a memorandum to the Lakhimpur DC demanding a high-level enquiry into the alleged scam.