Srikakulam district stands in last place

Srikakulam: The district administration has decided to take stringent measures with the support of people’s representatives for the construction of individual toilets.  This decision was taken as Srikakulam stood in last place across the state in achieving individual house hold toilets construction. Out of 13 districts, Srikakulam stood in last place after Chittoor which is a native district of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

“In all, 3,65,009 individual toilets were sanctioned this financial year after conducting verification over requirement across the district. Out of them, 1,08,364 were completed till date and 2,56,645 are pending. Of them 40,476 toilets construction is in progress and 2,16,169 to be grounded and average percentage of target achieved is 40.78 which is low when compared to 12 districts in the state.

Out of 38 mandals, Amudalavalasa stood in first place across the district by achieving 77.36 per cent. Sitampeta is in second place with 63.12 per cent, Hiramandal is in third position with 57.52 per cent, Bhamini is at fourth place with 54.40 per cent.

Interestingly, except Amudalavalasa other three mandals are tribal sub-plan mandals in agency limits which shows awareness of the people over sanitation and complications with open defecation. Regidi, native mandal of Minister for Energy Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao,  is in last place among 38 mandals with only 25.96 per cent.

Kotabommali, native mandal of Minister for Transport Kinjarapu Atchannaidu,  stood in 33rd position with 29.71 per cent. To achieve the target, district officials decided to adopt strict measures to stop pensions  and distribution of ration  “To motivate people, we are planning to initiate strict measures where beneficiaries are indifferent on construction of individual toilets,” Collector K Dhanunjaya Reddy said.

By Chowdari Lakshmana Rao