UP declares 7,435 villages ODF, Bareilly city sets target for Jun 30

BAREILLY: At a review meeting of Centre's flagship scheme, Swachh Baharat Abhiyaan, the Uttar Pradesh government declared 7,435 villages open defecation free.
"UP's Shamli district has been declared open defecation free and work is on a warfooting to make all districts ODF," said Parmeshwar Iyer, secretary, drinking water and cleanliness ministry, Union government.
Through video conferencing, Iyer instructed district officials across the state to carry out regular inspections of the toilets being constructed under the scheme and update the ministry regarding the same. He also asserted that officials should encourage people to use toilets instead of defecating in the open.
Bareilly has a deadline of October 2018 to declare itself ODF. District magistrate Pinki Jovel directed district panchayats raj officer (DPRO) Vinay Kumar Singh to release the first installment for construction of 6,000 toilets in the district. She also instructed officials to maintain separate lists of toilets being constructed in each village in the district and set daily targets on the construction. She also called for roping in villagers and women self help groups in creating awareness on the use of toilets and discouraging people from defecating in the open.
Meanwhile, Bareilly municipal corporation has set a target to make Bareilly city open defecation free (ODF) by constructing 7,919 toilets by June 30. It has transferred the amount to the accounts of 4,652 people for the same. As many as 390 toilets have been constructed. Cost of constructing one toilet is estimated at a cost of Rs 16,000.