Urban Andhra set to be free of open defection by October

Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) all 110 urban local bodies of Andhra Pradesh, comprising 3,458 wards, would become free of open defecation by October 2 this year, three years ahead of the national mission target of 2019, an official announced.

"Of the 3,458 wards, 2,766 wards are on the verge of being declared ODF (Open Defecation Free), with construction of individual household toilets and community toilets already completed," Rajiv Gauba, urban development ministry secretary, said in a statement.

He said he recently visited the state and conducted a video conference with all 110 municipal commissioners and 13 district collectors to assess the progress made under Swachh Bharat Mission.

During the visit, he also met various self-help group members and expressed satisfaction at their efforts in the state's progress towards ending open defecation in the state.

Gauba said that work in the remaining 692 wards is nearing completion and Andhra Pradesh would be able to declare all 110 urban local bodies free of open defeceation on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary this year.

Andhra Pradesh is also on its way to having 100 percent of its solid waste in urban areas processed, with 10 waste-to-energy (WTE) plants expected to become operational by 2017-18.

These 10 plants, once operational, will have the capacity to process 4,471 tonnes of urban solid waste per day, and produce 63 MW of power.

The waste-to-energy projects along with the city compost production facilities will hike the state's waste processing capabilities to 100 percent.

--IANS

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