Panur, Thalassery declared first ODF blocks in Kerala

KANNUR: Panur and Thalassery blocks in Kannur district have been declared the first open defecation free (ODF) blocks in the state. This was declared by the respective local body authorities at the district planning committee meeting here on Tuesday, said a press release.
In a survey it was found that 54 houses in four panchayats in Panur did not have toilet facilities while 96 houses in Thalassery also did not have toilets. In a time-bound manner the block and village panchayats built toilets for these houses with the help of the Suchitwa Mission thus achieving the ODF status, added the release.


District collector P Balakiran who addressed the meeting said the target is to make the district ODF by August 15. In the panchayats where more than 200 toilets have to be built, special intervention would be made, he added. District panchayat president K V Sumesh presided. As part of this campaigns have started in the municipalities and corporation, too, said officials.