Chandigarh: The Local Government Department, Punjab, in keeping with the vision of the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh under ‘Tandarust Punjab Mission’, has accelerated the campaign to make all the cities/towns of the state Open Defecation Free (ODF) and instructed the achievement of the target by 30th of June. Uptill now, 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 30th of June. For the achievement of the mission objectives, the department has already released Rs. 40.82 crores.
Disclosing this, an official spokesman said that the Local Government Department as per the ‘TANDARUST 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 spokesman further said that 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.
Providing more details, 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. The spokesman also 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.