The State lags far behind others in achieving the open defecation free (ODF) status in spite of intensive efforts by the government.
According to the data posted on the Swachh Bharat Mission, Telangana with 45.02% achievement stands well behind several other States including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Maharashtra which achieved 100% ODF status. The State’s achievement is also a bit less than Jammu & Kashmir (47.18%), Assam (54.18%) and Jharkhand (60.08%). Telangana is, however, well ahead of State’s like Bihar (14.46%), Odisha (23.29%) and Uttar Pradesh (33.11%).
Telangana’s performance in the coverage of individual household latrines is, however, better at 85.91%, ahead of Odisha (58.60%), Bihar (58.62%), Tripura (75.43%) and Uttar Pradesh (78.44%).
Achieving target
Five of the 10 erstwhile districts — Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal and Khammam — have been declared as ODF districts by the Swachh Bharat Mission in its portal.
Senior officials of the Panchayat Raj Department said the department had intensified efforts to ensure that the target of 100% ODF status is achieved by October 2.
Work on achieving ODF status were delayed because they were dependent on the releases from the Central government with State contributing small component.
Third party
In addition, the department has to first complete the targets in construction of Individual Household Lavatories (IHHL).
This would be followed by third party inspection of the infrastructure put up in the respective village/district only after which a formal declaration as ODF would be made.
“Construction of IHHLs alone will not suffice. The third party inspection takes into consideration whether these are being utilised by the people or not before giving their report. This will be followed by declaration as ODF village/district,” a senior official said.
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