CUTTACK: Banki Notified Area Council NAC ) in the district will be declared as open defecation free on March 31.It is a major achievement as Banki NAC is the first urban local body in the district to be declared at open defecation free. Officials said since last four years widespread and dedicated awareness campaign on Swachh Bharat Mission was carried out in the urban local body to sensitize people about the hazards of defecating in the open. People were encouraged to construct toilets at their houses and all the efforts have yielded desired results.“All our hard work has paid off as Banki NAC will be officially declared open defecation free on March 31,” said executive officer of Banki NAC, Satyabrata Mantri. He added that according to parameters of the Swachh Bharat Mission, any urban local body can declare its wards open defecation-free (ODF) only if it is successful in providing public conveniences at 75 % of its areas and Banki NAC has managed to achieve the feat.Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday congratulated the people of Banki town through his tweet for the achievement. Patnaik tweeted “ Congratulations to all the people of Banki on their town being declared ODF. Great job Team Banki.Work together to keep up the status and ensure a clean, green and health Banki,”.Mantri said as per 2011 census there are 3600 households in Banki NAC and it has a population of 17,521. In 2014, out 3600 households at least 2295 had no individual toilet facilities. In last four years, the urban local body has managed to construct over 900 individual toilets in the households. Besides, at least 41 community toilets and 32 public toilets have been constructed in the NAC in last four years. Campaigns in schools, colleges and at ward level were carried out to to make Banki ODF free.To ensure that the NAC continues to remain ODF, at least 15 dedicated teams have been formed to monitor the situation. The team comprising sanitary officers, SHG groups, Swachha Samiti members will do patrolling in each ward from 4 am to 9 am in the morning and 4 pm to 8pm in the evening to check open defecation. “If any person will be caught defecating in the open, he/she will be fined Rs 50 and the team which will catch the violator will be awarded Rs 100,” said Mantri.

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