Ranchi, Oct. 15: Jharkhand Chief Secretary Raj Bala Verma here on Saturday said that the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department should work on a war-footing to achieve its target to make all gram panchayats and blocks open defecation free (ODF) in order to make Jharkhand clean.
Masons and other necessary resources should be arranged beforehand so that the work does not stop once it is started. She said so while reviewing the work of the department. She addressed DCs of all districts through video conferencing on construction of private toilets.
The CS said that 56 blocks of Ramgarh, Sahebganj, Godda, Jamtara, Khunti, Koderma and Lohardaga have been targeted to be made ODF this year. Schemes should be made at different levels to achieve the target. She said that the DCs can take decisions at district level. In case of lack of staff, interview should be conducted and panchayat secretariat staff should be also included in this work.
The CS stressed on certifying the ODF panchayats and said that control rooms should be made soon in those districts lacking it for monitoring toilet construction work. She said that funds received under DMFT and MLA funds should be used for constructing toilets on priority basis. She directed the Swachh Bharat Mission director to go to Godda and Sahebganj and see the toilet construction work.
In order to make toilets for every family, teams should be made at village level. Maximum blocks should be made ODF this financial year so that the whole state can be declared ODF in 2018.
Drinking Water and Sanitation Department principal Secretary A. P. Singh, Swachh Bharat Mission director and other officers were also present on this occasion.