Karimnagar declared as open defecation free (ODF)

Karimnagar, Jan 20: The century-old Karimnagar town has been declared open defecation free (ODF) by the Quality Council of India (QCI), a Union government agency.

The Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) had launched a two-year campaign to achieve the status. Due to the execution of underground drainage (UGD) system, the government initially had not sanctioned individual sanitary latrines (ISL). However, they were provided following the MCK's pleas.

MCK constructed 385 ISLs and 39 insanitary toilets and merged them with UGD. They also erected 12 public toilets, including five at RTC bus station complex, and 10 temporary ones to check open urination. All toilets were provided with running water facilities.

Sharing that MCK is next only to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in the State to have earned the tag, Mayor S. Ravinder Singh, deputy Mayor G. Ramesh and Municipal Commissioner K. Shashanka appealed to residents to use the toilets regularly. The QCI would conduct re-verification every six months.