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The Ministry of Urban Development has certified 10 towns — five towns each in Maharashtra and Telangana — as ‘Open Defecation Free’ (ODF), an official statement said on Monday.
With this, the Ministry has begun the process of third party verification of ODF claims by towns under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). It received ODF claims of 11 towns independently verified by the Quality Council of India and certified ten.
While Kagal, Panchgani, Vengurla, Murgud and Panhala in Maharashtra and Siddipet, Shadnaga, Suryapet, Achampet and Huzurnagar in Telangana have become ODF, the Ministry said that the claim of Bhongir in Telanagana will be reassessed.
Overall, the Centre is verifying claims of a total 141 towns in 7 States which include 100 towns in Maharashtra alone.
According to the reports received by Centre from States, a total of 974 cities and towns will eliminate open defecation next year.
A ward or city can be declared as ODF if, at any point of the day, not a single person is found to be defecating in the open, the statement added. The verification process includes self declaration by the city and on intimation of the same by the respective urban local body or State, the Ministry gets such claims verified in 30 days based on assessment of service level status (construction and availability of household, community and public toilets) and independent observations by the third party.
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