#SwachhataHiSeva: 15,000 Toilets Constructed Every Day To Make Uttar Pradesh Open Defecation Free By 2018, Says CM Yogi Adityanath

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva (Cleanliness is Service) campaign in Uttar Pradesh highlighted many steps that are being taken by the state to meet its ambitious target of going open defecation free (ODF) by December 2018. Chief Minister Adityanath said, “We are building 15,000 toilets every single day and the aim is to construct around 78 lakh toilets by December this year.” The Minister also underlined the fact that the state still needs to build approximately 1.5 crore toilets by 2018 in a bid to meet the ODF target.

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In coming months, the state government will also give one toilet each to less fortunate families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. For this Rs. 12,000 crore has been allotted for rural areas and Rs. 10,000 crore have been allotted urban areas of the state by the UP government.

We need to meet the ODF goal by 2018, for this, it is important each and every citizen participate. I have personally requested to all the officials at all levels to participate in Swachh Bharat activities and fulfill the dream of ‘Swachh Uttar Pradesh,’ added Yogi Adityanath.

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These steps are being taken as till date the state with 1,07,452 villages and 59,000 gram panchayats is known for its dismal record in sanitation coverage. The state has not seen any improvement despite the fact that Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched nearly three years ago. The scenario is no different when it comes to urban areas of the state. As of today, no city in the state has been declared open defecation free. Chief Minister Adityanath added,

From open defecation to the Mighty rivers of India, Uttar Pradesh is fortunate that Ganga and Yamuna pass through the state, but, the tragedy is that we are the one to be blamed. It is unfortunate that Kanpur is the biggest polluter of the river Ganga. Clean India goal cannot be attained, without the cleaning of Ganga and Yamuna, these are the two of the world’s dying rivers.

Going with the theme of Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, Chief Minister has urged all the citizens of the state to come forward and do ‘Sharamdhan’ on regular basis.

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