Jhapa, February 19 Jhapa’s Kankai Municipality was been declared open defecation free zone today. The declaration coincided with the National Democracy Day celebrations today. Kankai is the first municipality to be declared an ODF zone in Jhapa. Out of 8 municipalities and 7 rural municipalities, only two rural municipalities have been declared ODF zones in the district. On the eve of the declaration, candles were lit. Birat Community Study Centre had facilitated the ODF campaign with support from Global Sanitation Fund Programme in the municipality. Kankai Municipality Mayor Rajendra Pokhrel said they had a plan to build similar looking houses, and plant the same kind of trees in the municipality. Pokhrel said they would take action if anyone was found defecating in the open. Any individual, organisation and firm defying the rule will be blacklisted. A person found defecating in the open for the first time will be fined Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 will be charged in case the person is caught the next time.