At Centre's review meeting, UTs pledge to be ODF-free by 2018

Seven Union territories comprising 16 urban local bodies (ULBs) have committed to becoming open defecation-free (ODF) by March next year in a two-day review meeting held by the ministry of urban development. This includes three municipal corporations of Delhi.

Only New Delhi Municipal Council, Chandigarh and Mahe in Puducherry have become ODF among the 16 ULBs.

About 6.22 lakh households in the national capital will be provided with tap water over the next two years under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme according to Delhi government officials, an official release stated. Chandigarh is the first city to ensure water taps in all households.

City officials informed that over 1,600 households have been provided with water taps further to which all the 2.10 lakh households now have taps.

During the meeting, it was assured that south and east municipal corporations of Delhi will become open defecation- free by October, while the north civic body will do so by December.

Urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu who chaired the meeting asked Delhi government and municipal bodies to focus on solid waste management and segregation of municipal waste at source.

He further told authorities to send proposals at the earliest to meet the 2022 deadline of house construction for the country's urban poor.

Lt Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, LG of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister of Puducherry, V Narayanasamy, and Urban Development Minister of Delhi, Satyendra Jain were present in the meeting, among others.