MANANG: The mountainous Manang district was declared the 39th Open Defaecation Free zone on Saturday.

Manang District Coordination Committee Local Development Official Ramu Raj Kadariya declared the same amid a programme organised here in the district.

The district was declared Open Defaecation Free zone after the construction of toilets in 1,275 households of four rural municipalities, according to the Chief of Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office, Madhu Timilsina. He said that 99.62 per cent of the households have constructed toilets.

There is a provision to declare Open Defaecation Free zone if the number of toilets cross over 90 per cent, he said.

Chief guest of the programme Chief District Officer (CDO) Sunil Khanal said the declaration of Open Defaecation Free zone was not enough. He further stressed the need to keep the households and the surroundings clean.

The local residents had taken out rally around the town playing musical instruments and distributing pamphlets, and cards.

It has been targeted to declare Nepal an Open Defaecation Free country by 2017, Kadariya informed.

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