Bajura, September 16 Martadi VDC office in Bajura yesterday decided to make it compulsory for locals to build toilets in their homes. Local residents risk being deprived of subsidised rice provided by Nepal Food Corporation, Martadi branch, if they do not build toilets in their houses within a week. Also, power supply is likely to get cut off and a new line will not be connected if households do not have their own toilet. “We have urged locals to build toilets time and again, but they are negligent,” said VDC Secretary Satyaraj Joshi, of Martadi. According to him, there are 1,265 families in Martadi. Around 1,140 have constructed toilets. As many as 24 VDCs of the district were already declared open defecation free zone while Martadi, Kolti, Jukot and Rugin have not reached that status. Engineer, Shiva Raj Neupane of Drinking Water and Sanitation Sub-division office, said locals of the four VDCs will be deprived of all government facilities if they do not build toilets. The VDC has issued a notice to the locals that they will not be recommended for citizenship certificates, elderly allowance, birth and death registration, among others from the VDC if they do not build toilets Source: The Himalayan Times