Dolakha, August 29

Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation Bina Magar declared Dolakha district Open Defecation Free zone, at a programme organised in district headquarters, Charikot today.

However, locals have criticised Minister Magar’s announcement saying that it was very impractical.

Minister Magar and Ramakanta Dawadi, deputy executive director of Drinking Water and Drainage Management, handed over certificate designating Dolakha as ODF zone to coordinator of the District Coordination Committee Dabal Pandey.

However, locals criticised Minister Magar for announcing Dolakha an ODF zone. They said the announcement was meaningless as the district did not have a single public toilet.

Ramesh Chaulagain, a local of Bhimeshwor Municipality-4 said it was a matter of shame that the district was announced ODF without constructing public toilets in the markets and other public places.

“The district was declared ODF due to pressure from non-government organisations,” he added.

Dolakha Chamber of Industry and Commerce Chairman Indra Bahadur Shrestha said Dolakha as ODF zone will only be limited to paper.

According to the District Coordination Committee, as many as 45,658 households in the district have constructed toilets.