Open defecation rampant in Kangra villages

Our Correspondent

Palampur, February 21

Despite the state government’s tall claims, the Swacch Bharat campaign is not being implemented properly in Kangra district. The district administration seems non-serious about the initiative despite availability of funds.

According to the latest figures released by the state government, over 13,987 families in 15 blocks of Kangra district do not have toilets. At present, 2,348 toilets are being constructed under different schemes of the state government.

Himachal Pradesh became the second state after Sikkim to be declared as open defecation-free in 2016. The latest survey conducted in December 2017 has brought the implementing agencies, especially BDO’s, under the scanner for supplying false information to the state government. The survey specifically pointed out that open defecation continues in several villages of Kangra district as there were no toilets.

The Block Development Officers have failed to implement funds provided by the Centre under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Meanwhile, MP Shanta Kumar while presiding over a meeting of ministers, MLAs and district officials yesterday expressed concern over the poor implementation of scheme in Kangra. He said it was a serious matter that officials misguided the state government and supplied wrong figures. He said he would ask the Chief Minister for appropriate action against the officials for sending wrong data to state government.