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Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Baishakh 7, 1423 BS, Rajab 12, 1437 Hijri


Kakonhat pourasava poised to attain cent per cent sanitation
Published :Wednesday, 20 April, 2016,  Time : 12:00 AM  View Count : 22

RAJSHAHI, Apr 19: Kakonhat pourasava in Godagari upazila of the district is afoot to attain cent per cent sanitation and safe-drinking water with spontaneous community participation.
Kakonhat pourasava, a remote and underdeveloped one, has established more than 11 community latrines in all its public places under the good practice programme. It has been operating those successfully. In addition to the poor and marginal groups, non-resident people use the latrines free of cost.
Based on public recommendation and opinion, a need-oriented vision has been adopted in order to build the pourasava as green, clean, self-reliance, and enlightening within near future.
The major activities scheduled to be implemented under the vision included plantation of Barind-friendly trees, ensuring safe-drinking water, strategic uses of groundwater, restriction of open place stools and urinary emission, removal of unhygienic latrine, smoke-free cooking, website, and service delivery through own information centre.
Pourasava Mayor Abdul Mazid here said that about 20 sq km area pourasava was established in 2002, and its present population is 22,395, ethnic communities are 1,000, and households 3,318.
Despite its location at remote high Barind land and development-deprived area, the pourasava is committed towards quality service delivery together with expediting the civic amenities gradually.
As a result, it has been upgraded into B category from C within only seven years, Abdul Mazid informed.
He said the good practices of the pourasava were detected through various indicators and said establishment and proper functioning of the 11 community latrines is the major outcome. He, however, said achievement of cent per cent sanitation is very difficult in such type of drought-prone area where crises of water is very acute, especially during the dry season.
Uninterrupted water supply is the precondition to attain the total success, he said, emphasizing the need for best uses of the surface water. Abdul Mazid also put emphasis on groundwater recharging through enriching the surface water resources with necessary excavation and re-excavation of the derelict ponds and canals.
Besides, he said people are totally different in habituation relating to maintaining personal hygiene and sanitation. "To overcome the constraints, we have adopted special measures including folksong and aboriginal cultural show and the habituation has been changed with the vigorous intervention".
Mayor Mazid stated that a number of disabled and child friendly latrines were built to make the effort a total success.
As there's no hospital in the pourasava, a primary healthcare centre has been established at the pourasava building providing services to its people in general and the poor and distressed people in particular, he said.
A 650-seat auditorium-cum-community centre was built at a cost of Tk 2.50 crore where the local people can arrange their formal functions and other ceremonies in the days ahead.
"We have arranged streetlight system", he said, adding that the pourasava has established information centre and website (helpline) for resolution of public grievances relating to sanitation, street lights and supply water.
In this regard, he said the complaint could be filed and status could be checked by the pourasava website.     ?BSS







Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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