Government certifies 10 towns as open defecation free

Beginning the process of third party verification of Open Defecation Free (ODF) claims by towns under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), the government on Monday certified 10 towns as ODF and claimed that at least 974 cities and towns will be Open Defecation free by 2017.

"The ministry had got ODF claims of 11 towns independently verified by the Quality Council of India and certified the claims of ten of them as per the protocol evolved for such certification," Urban Development Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The towns certified to have become ODF are; Kagal, Panchgani, Vengurla, Murgud and Panhala in Maharashtra and Siddipet, Shadnaga, Suryapet, Achampet and Huzurnagar in Telangana.

The claim of Bhongir in Telanagana will be re-assessed.

Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, who reviewed the progress of the Mission in urban areas asked his officials to ensure effective follow up action with states for realizing the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

He said, a total of 141 towns in seven states have claimed to become ODF including 100 in Maharashtra and these claims are under verification.

Among 141 towns, 100 are from Maharashtra, 13 from Gujarat, six from Telangana, 10 from West Bengal, three from Chhattisgarh, two from Manipur and one from Rajasthan.

The Ministry said, as per the reports received from states so far, a total of 974 cities and towns will eliminate Open Defecation next year.

--IANS

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