Nagpur: Though the city has retained its open defecation free (ODF) status in July this year, the ground reality is far different.In the past two and a half months, the NMC’s nuisance detection squad (NDS) has caught 133 persons for defecating in the open. Cases of open defecation are common, be it in tony Laxmi Nagar or congested Gandhibagh zones. It is quite high particularly in slums where toilets have been constructed but proper water supply not provided.Residents around Gandhisagar Lake and Ganeshpeth bus stand have complained during their morning walks people defecating in the open is a regular sight.From August 1 to October 12, the NDS has caught 80 citizens and recovered Rs200 fine from each, revealed statistics of the NMC’s sanitation department.The Gandhibagh zone, which is one of the city’s busiest business hubs, has become notorious for open defecation. Since December 2016 when the NMC had started imposing fines, it has caught 223 persons for the nuisance and collected Rs39,300 from them.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s south-west constituency has seen 200 people being totally docked Rs 24,500. Those fined are largely from Laxmi Nagar zone.Even localities in Mangalwari and Dhantoli zones figured in people going out in the open to answer nature’s call. A 133 and 115 persons, respectively, were fined for the offence.A senior official admitted that in many areas, especially where construction activities are on, labourers indulge in open defecation. He added that the NMC has already succeeded in bringing down the OD spots from 80 to 20 and most ODF zones are situated in slums in the city’s outskirts, some busy commercial areas such as railway stations, bus stands, markets, religious places and other public places.Former municipal commissioner Ashwin Mudgal had announced the city open defecation-free. The civic body has constructed over 12,000 toilets besides installing mobile toilets at places that reported open defecation like Kalamna market and NIT’s transport plaza on Kamptee Road among others.“Yet, many people continue to defecate in the open before dawn and after dusk,” the official said.

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