India - State lags in sanitation programme

Mangalore, February 18, 2008:  The state of Karnataka may not achieve the 2012 deadline given by the Union Ministry for Rural Development on the total sanitation campaign according to the project officer, UNICEF, Hyderabad, Vijaya Gawade here today February 18, 2008.

Speaking at the state level workshop on national total sanitation programme Mr. Gawade said that the total average sanitation covered in Karnataka was around 40 per cent, but in 17 districts in the state it was less than 20 per cent.  The average sanitation cover in the State is increasing by 8 to 10 per cent each year, he said which was also low compared to other states in the country.