A total of 2,157 panchayats out of 3,243 in Himachal Pradesh have been made open defecation free (ODF) so far and a sanitation drive was in full swing in the rest, state Panchayati Raj minister Jairam Thakur told the assembly today.

While the union government has fixed a target of Sarpoorna Swachchhata Abhiyan (total sanitation drive) till 2012, HP hopes to achieve the same this year itself, Thakur said in reply to a question during the Question Hour.

The minister said Ghumarwee block of Hamirpur district has received Nirmal gram award till January 31, 2010 while case of 15 other blocks were under consideration for the top national award for next financial year.

Thakur said that cleanliness drive was launched in HP in 2000 from Sirmaur district which was subsequently extended to other 11 districts of the state.

The minister said that the cleanliness drive was running successfully in the hill state despite limited funds provided by the Centre for the same.

As against demand of Rs 149 crore presented by the state to the Centre for the programme, a meagre sum of Rs 29 crore has been provided in last ten years, he said.