Though the South Dinajpur District administration said South Dinajpur has become Open Defection-Free form on Monday, state Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee, who attended a function at the Satyajit Mancha here on Monday, did not announce the same from the dais, but said the district will be formally announced ODF from Kolkata after proper verification by the panchayat department.

On the other hand, he warmed NGOs engaged in the construction of toilets under the Open Defection-Free project to execute quality work.Officials of the panchayat department, the district magistrate, three chairmen of the three municipalities, members of Self Help Groups and some MLAs were present in the event on Monday.

People in South Dinajpur, on the other hand, have raised questions on the execution of the project in different panchayats in the district as villagers have already started demanding proper construction of toilets in their areas.

Villagers of Bansihari, Balurghat, Kumarganj, Tapan and Harirampur have demanded the same and they are still waiting for government aid,” sources said. “The district administration has been trying to make the district Open Defection-Free since the last two years.

Initially, it was reported by the state government that Rs 20,4000 families in the district have no toilet facilities. However, since the past one and a half years, the district administration took it as a one point programme and has successfully accomplished it,” said an administrative official. “Our experience is not good, the district administration has to arrange sources of water in every house to use toilets.

Without water, the toilets will turn into a store room. The administration has claimed that the district has become 100% ODF on Monday.

My department will verify it properly. We will announce the district as an ODF district after properly examining the situation,” Minister Mukherjee said.

“NGO’s who are constructing the toilets should be very careful. Do not hurry. Take your time and ensure proper construction. Otherwise government will take action,” he added.