Navjot Sidhu, Local Government Minister
Chandigarh, June 18, 2018: All the cities/towns of the state will become Open Defecation Free (ODF) by June 30, announced the Local Government Department here on Monday.
Till date, 120 cities have achieved the status of being Open Defecation Free whereas the rest of the 47 cities/towns would in all likelihood complete the target by the June 30, 2018 to achieve the objectives of Mission Tandrust Punjab. The department has already released Rs. 40.82 crores for the purpose.
An official spokesman said that the Local Government Department as per 'Tandrust Punjab Mission' has pledged to eradicate the menace of garbage strewn here and there in the cities. The 120 out of total 167 Urban Local Bodies have so far declared themselves Open Defecation Free.
The department is getting this claim verified by the third party which has verified the claims of 72 Urban Local Bodies have been found to be correct whereas the rest are under process.
The spokesman said that the rest of the 47 Urban Local Bodies would also be Open Defecation Free by 30th June which would cover all the cities/towns of the state. The department has instructed these 47 Urban Local Bodies to work in full force to achieve the target by the said date.
He added that in accordance with the demand received with regard to the individual toilets inside the households, community and public toilets, the department has released Rs. 40.82 crores so as to ensure meeting the target in due time.