Karnal: The Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) today declared the city as open defecation-free (ODF) under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Karnal: The Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) today declared the city as open defecation-free (ODF) under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The rural areas of the district were already declared as ODF by the Union Government, while efforts were under way for the ODF status in the areas of Nilokheri, Indri, Gharaunda, Nissing, Taraori and Assandh civic bodies.

The KMC invited objections from public through a public notice on July 27 and the deadline for submitting objections was August 10. Nobody challenged the KMC’s claim during this period.

A Central team would verify the claims of the KMC for giving the official status of the ODF next week.

“We have fixed a deadline of August 15 for making the city ODF. With sincere efforts of our employees, cooperation of residents and attempts of volunteers and motivators, we are able to achieve this target before the deadline,” said Priyanka Soni, Commissioner, KMC.

She said, “The households that do not have space to construct toilets have access to the community toilets as per the guidelines. 10 mobile and 88 fixed toilets have been made available.”

Nearly 2,144 families without toilets were identified in the KMC limits and grants were issued to them to construct toilets, she said.

She said there were 46 community toilets and 3 e-toilets in the city area. All commercial areas have public toilets. “We have also decided to impose a fine of Rs 500 on people who defecate in the open,” she said.

Mayor Renu Bala Gupta also lauded the cooperation of residents and efforts of the employees and said that it was a proud moment that the KMC had become ODF.