Assembly discusses Rs.1.3 mn AC toilet in Goa CM’s constituency

PANAJI - Controversy surrounding a Rs.1.3 million air-conditioned toilet being constructed in Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s constituency Margao, 35 km from here, has left the ruling benches in the state assembly ‘flushed’.

For nearly 10 minutes during Question Hour Wednesday, opposition legislators and Kamat discussed threadbare ‘practical’ issues surrounding the controversial toilet — being constructed by sanitation specialists Sulabh International.

“The Margao garden is considered the most prestigious garden in the state. So what if there is an AC toilet. Once it is ready, a split AC could be fitted later,” Kamat said, endorsing air conditioning the toilet in his constituency.

Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao, under whose ministry’s aegis the toilet is being constructed, said there was no harm in having an air conditioned toilet and that the common man could use the other existing non-air conditioned loos.

Vijay Pai Khot, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Canacona constituency in south Goa, said air conditioning of toilets could pose ‘practical’ operational problems.

“Are you all really serious about having an AC toilet? It is a closed space… If someone uses it, the whole toilet will smell,” he said.

Known for his acerbic wit, leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar red flagged the concept, citing an even more compelling argument.

“It’s an air conditioned toilet. If someone steps into an AC toilet, he will not like to come out of it,” Parrikar quipped.