TURA: The Tura Municipal Board’s (TMB) move to implement Swachh Bharat here has hit technology hurdle.
The civic board had asked for online submission of applications for toilets under the central scheme meant for economically backward families who have no access to internet.
The president of a local development committee in Tura said, “It is surprising because it is a matter of commonsense to note that no BPL families in Tura town have access to computers or have knowledge to fill up forms online.”
He said the civic body should have collected information and if it was mandatory under the Swachh Bharat Mission to submit details online, the board should have facilitated it or should have created a help centre.
Last year, TMB chairman had issued a directive to the development committees in Tura town to furnish lists of beneficiaries for individual sanitary toilets and had set a two-day deadline. The development committees submitted the lists within the stipulated time.
But TMB cancelled them and asked individuals to apply online.
The fresh order for online submission was issued in February last but most of the committees failed to submit the lists, which has created a bottleneck in the implementation of the programme.
Development committees from different localities revealed that very few people have submitted their applications online.
“We were happy that poor urban households would be provided toilets under the Mission but there is not much awareness and facilitation by the implementing agencies,” said one of the members of a development committee.
The committee also feels that the amount to be sanctioned for construction of toilets is very less.
The problem of solid waste management has also gone unnoticed. The Swachh Bharat Mission envisages 100 per cent solid waste management.
Last year, awareness programmes were held to propagate the message but till date there is no measure to segregate waste at the dumping ground at Rongkhon Songgitalgre.
A visit to the dumping ground in Tura town shows the civic body’s apathy.
The 2014-15 audit report states that Rs 9.69 crore has been spent on garbage disposal facility in Nongpoh and Tura town that has a population of about 73,000 as per the 2011 census.
At present, TMB has set up 32 concrete dustbins – one bin for more than 2,500 people. About 16 movable iron dustbins have been kept without use at the dumping ground in Rongkhon Songgitalgre.
