Udupi district among seven in state being declared open defecation-free
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Sep 26: The city has emerged as the first ever city in the group of urban centres with population between five and ten lacs in the country to have been declared as open defecation free city. Among the cities with over ten lac population.
A team which conducted survey gave this information to the corporation officials here. The agency which conducted verification conveyed over phone that the city has emerged as the first city devoid of open defecation. The official information communication about this rare honour is expected to reach the city corporation council on Monday or Tuesday. In all likelihood, the letter giving this proud distinction to the city will be handed over on September 28, sources said.
On August 15, the city corporation had declared 16 wards as free of open defecation. Preparations are afoot to declare the remaining wards too as free from this ugly practice, it is gathered.
Chairperson of standing committee of city corporation council on health, Kavita Sanil, and city corporation commissioner, Muhammed Nazir, have confirmed the fact that the city is set to lead the country in the matter of hygiene, having won the spot of distinction.
Mysuru too has been declared the first city in the country that is free of open defecation in another category of population.
Udupi district among seven in state being declared open defecation-free
"Seven districts including Udupi, 26 taluks and a thousand gram panchayats in the state are set to be declared as free from open defecation on October 2," said minister for rural development and panchayat raj, H K Patil.
He was speaking to media persons after inaugurating sports tournament and cultural competition of panchayat raj and local administration representatives from the twin-districts at a function organized at Viveka group of educational institutions, Kota on Sunday September 25.