Odisha achieves cent percent sanitation target in nine dists

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, June 26: Cent percent sanitation target under ‘Swachha Odisha, Sustha Odisha’ programme has been achieved in nine districts of the State.

            This was revealed at a videoconference review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and attended by Union Water & Sanitation Secretary Parameswaran here.

            The review further revealed that nearly 90-96 per cent target has been achieved in four districts while it is 84 per cent in 10 other districts.

            The Chief Secretary directed the officials to adhere to the time line and complete the projects accordingly, said officials.

He asked the officials to achieve cent percent target between July 31 and August last, the officials added.

            Principal Secretary Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh suggested including old and new families under the scheme and presented the financial and administrative angles.

            The review revealed 100 per cent toilet construction target has been achieved in Balasore, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kondhmal, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Subarnapur, Gajapati and Ganjam districts while 93 per cent target has been achieved in four districts—Sundargarh, Rayagada, Balangir and Jagatsinghpur districts.

            Bargarh, Khordha, Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, Nabarangpur, Nuapara, Puri, Koraput and Jajpur districts have achieved 84 per cent target on an average and the target is 72 per cent in other districts.

            Notably, only 12 per cent families had toilets during a 2012-13 survey. So far 68 lakh toilets have been constructed across the State.

            The scheme intends to cover 79 lakh families in State for which the Centre and State government financial assistance is in the 60:40 ratio.