Guntur will soon be given the tag of the first city to be Open Defecation Free (ODF) in the Amaravati capital region in Andhra Pradesh. The Union government and Swachch Bharat Mission on Thursday presented the ODF city certificate to the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC).
The GMC set a benchmark by constructing 7,160 toilets in the city, overtaking cities like Vijayawada and Tirupati, as it secured the rank of second best city in the state.
The GMC promoted individual toilets and constructed 7,160 toilets to meet the needs of 30,000 people who used to defecate openly.
The GMC also ensured water supply to targeted areas of the city.
An official told Deccan Chronicle that Rs 15,000 per toilet was sanctioned to each beneficiary and further provided public water taps which turned the areas into ODF localities.
However, residents have demanded a better drainage system and closure of open drains to switch the district headquarters into a Smart City.
However, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is at the top of the open defecation-free (ODF) municipal cities in Andhra Pradesh. Vizag was declared open defecation-free two months ago, by constructing more than 12,000 individual household toilets.
In addition to that 276 public toilets, 66 community toilets and seven in public private participation had also been constructed.
The Hindu report says that nearly 300 people were provided merit certificates for taking up cleanliness-related work and executing it.
Earlier, a release by the Urban Development Ministry official release said “During the review, it emerged that Andhra Pradesh, which has been in the forefront of construction of toilets in urban areas, can make all 100 municipalities open defecation free by October 2, this year, as per the action plans in progress.”
Out of 1,94,336 individual household toilets in urban areas of AP, work has started with respect to 1,53,779 and construction of 1,04,732 toilets has already been completed, the release said.