An independent survey conducted by the Quality Council of India, declared five towns from Maharashtra and Telangana Open Defecation Free (ODF).
Kagal, Panchgani, Vengurla, Murgud and Panhala in Maharashtra and Siddipet, Shadnaga, Suryapet, Achampet and Huzurnagar in Telangana have been certified.
It has been a year and a half, since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The Urban development ministry targets to make 974 towns free from open defecation by next year.
A total of 141 towns in seven states have claimed to have become Open Defecation Free, while these claims are under verification.