MUSHALPUR, April 22 - Arsenic has been found in 59 water sources, mostly in Mushalpur and Salbari subdivisions of Baksa, said Lwmshraw Daimary, the Executive Member of BTC for PHE. Addressing a public meeting at Swachhata Mela at Mushalpur recently, he demanded that a PHE subdivision be set up at Salbari in the wake of the findings. He also urged the people to get the water of their respective areas tested at the departmental laboratories.
Meanwhile in keeping with the swachhata mela, swachhata awards were presented to five smart villages in Baksa. A cheque of Rs 10,000 was presented to Dakshin Suburi village under Tamulpur Development Block, Barsimlaguri village of Barama Development Block bagged the second prize of Rs 7000, the third prize of Rs 5000 was bagged by Borgaon village under Jalah Development Block, No. 1 Katligaon village under Baska Development Block bagged the fourth prize with an award of Rs 4000 while Karankata village under Jalah Development Block was presented Rs 3000 along with citations.
Rihon Daimary, Minister of PHE, Assam presented the awards. The minister urged Government offices not to use plastic disposable glasses and plates and also urged the Baksa PHE Division to start a pilot project on recycling of plastic materials. He announced that a cash award has been instituted for journalists for best coverage on cleanliness issues taken up at the Government and community level. He added that swachhata awards will also be instituted at the constituency levels.
As per baseline survey of 2012, Baksa is short of 26,000 toilets to get the tag of Open Defecation Free (ODF) district. However, as per the present requirement, a total 76,000 toilets will have to be constructed to make the district completely open defecation free.
