The Tiruchi Corporation, which aims to improve its Swachh Bharat ranking for the year 2016-17, is all set to become Open Defecation Free (ODF).
A proposal to that effect has been sent to the Union Ministry of Urban Development, detailing the action plan put in place to prevent open defecation in the city. A number of documents to prove the claim have also been attached.
According to sources, upon receiving the proposal, the Ministry had sent a team of experts from a quality consultancy group to verify the claims. The team members, who visited different parts of the city including Central Bus Stand, Chathiram Bus Stand, Gandhi market and others took stock of the ground situation. Besides noting down field level inputs, they also interacted with various stakeholders.
The effectiveness of public toilets and sanitary complexes being maintained by the Corporation were also studied.
Speaking to The Hindu , N. Ravichandran, Corporation Commissioner, said on Saturday that all formalities for declaring Tiruchi free from open defection has been completed.
The Central team had also completed its survey. It was in the process of drafting its comments on implementation of ODF programmes in the city.
He said there were about 450 public toilets and sanitary complexes in the city. The Corporation had received positive response from the team.
The Corporation is awaiting a certification from the team and it expected within a few days. It would enable the Corporation to secure 150 marks slated for public and private toilet category in Swachh Bharat ranking.
