63 districts declared open defecation free zone

Kathmandu : The total 63 districts have been declared open defecation free zone so far since the government launched the campaign 15 years ago.

Kathmandu, the federal capital of the country, has missed the list of districts free of open defecation. Other districts which have yet to be announced free of open defecation include Kapilvastu, Parsa, Bara, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Morang, Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, Dahding, Bhojpur, Solukhumbu and Dolakaha.

Hilly and mountainous districts are faster to rid themselves of open defecation areas as compared to plain areas, said Ratna Prasad Lamichhane, information officer at the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage.

Lack of adequate space, poverty and flooding-prone areas in Tarai are blamed for the delay, he said. The remaining districts will be declared open defecation free area soon as 80 percent of work has been completed in this regard, he said. Chitwan was the first district that was announced open defecation free zone. RSS