Only 36 per cent of households in rural areas had toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) programme in the State as on November 30, 2016.
Rural Development Minister Badri Narayan Patra informed this in the State Assembly in response to questions of BJD MlA Dibya Sankar Mishra and Congress MlA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
He said a target has been set to construct toilets in all eligible households by October 2019.
Patra said quality of construction of toilet is not a major reason for nonuse of toilets in rural areas. To ensure the quality of construction, all cluster/block Coordinators, District Project Coordinators, district level consultants, Jr Engineers/Assistant Engineers of RWSS and Block JEs are visiting the respective areas.
The toilet coverage in Jharsuguda block was 13.45 per cent and in Golamunda block is 17.88 per cent as on November 30, the Minister informed.