Mahottari, Sept 9, Fourteen local levels of Mahottari district have been declared open defecation free (ODF) and fully immunized zones. The number has reached 14 with the declaration of Loharpatti municipality as ODF and fully-immunized zone on Sunday.
With this development, district headquarters Jaleshwor municipality is only left to be declared as ODF and fully-immunized area. It may be noted that the District Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygene Coordination Committee and Full Immunization District Coordination Committee have been effortful to declare Mahottari as an ODF and fully-immunized district by September 17.
Earlier this month, Aurahi and Matihanii municipalities and Mahottari and Ekdara rural municipality were declared ODF and fully-immunized areas. Suresh Prasad Singh, coordinator of Mahottari District Coordination Committee, said that there would be no open defecation and non-immunized area in local levels of the district from September 17 onwards.
According to the committee, 400 households of Jaleswor municipality out of total 111,034 households in the district are yet to construct toilets. Local intellectuals however have commented that it was not a matter of pride for the district headquarters, Jaleswor, to remain open defecation despite progress in other local levels.
