Over 4,000 urban cities declared open defecation free: Govt
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Over 4,000 urban cities have been declared open defecation free (ODF) under the Swachh Bharat Mission, an official at the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said.
Out of the total 4,378 urban cities, 4,140 have already been declared ODF in the country, he said.
The official said almost all the urban cities will become ODF by the next month under the Swachh Bharat Mission, a flagship programme of the Narendra Modi government.
Addressing the joint session of Parliament on January 31, President Ram Nath Kovind had said nine crore toilets were constructed under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, underlining that coverage of rural sanitation that was less than 40 per cent in 2014 has increased to 98 per cent.
"Of the actual targets of building 62,42,220 individual toilets, more than 93 per cent have already been constructed. The ministry has also achieved the 100 per cent target of building community and public toilets with the construction of five lakh such toilets," the official said.
Apart from this, door-to-door collection of solid waste is in place in 72,503 municipal wards out of 84,229 wards, a target of 86 per cent achieved.
The scientific processing of solid waste has gone up over 50 per cent, which was around 18 per cent in 2014, the official added.
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Pakistan register 3-wicket consolation win over Ireland
Lauderhill (USA), Jun 16: Former champions Pakistan beat Ireland by three wickets to register a consolation win over Ireland in their inconsequential T20 World Cup match here on Sunday.
Pakistan and Ireland have already been eliminated from the tournament with India and debutants USA progressing to the Super Eight from Group A.
Left-arm pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Amir wreaked havoc with the new ball, helping Pakistan restrict Ireland to 106 for nine.
Shaheen finally came to the party, albeit in a lost cause, returning with impressive figures of 3/22, while Amir scalped two wickets for 11 runs as Pakistan bowlers ignited fire on a damp pitch after electing to bowl.
Imad Wasim (3/8) bowled brilliantly while Haris Rauf (1/17) also accounted for a batter.
Gareth Delany (31 off 19) and Mark Adair (15 off 19) shared crucial 32-run stand for the seventh wicket to keep Ireland in the game.
Pakistan made a heavy weather of the chase as they were reduced to 57 for 5 in 9.3 overs before skipper Babar Azam (32 not out) and Abbas Afridi (17) did the repair job.
Barry McCarthy (3/15) was the pick of Ireland bowlers.
Brief Scores:
Ireland: 106 for 9 in 20 overs (Gareth Delany 31, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/22, Imad Wasim 3/8, Mohammad Amir 2/11).
Pakistan: 111 for 7 in 18.5 overs (Babar Azam 32 not out; Barry McCarthy 3/15).
