Bhopal, March 14: The Madhya Pradesh government today told the Legislative Assembly that it has set the October 2 target to end the practice of open defecation in the state.

"We want to make Madhya Pradesh open defecation free by October 2 this year," Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava said while replying to a debate on the Budgetary allocations for his departments.

He said a total of 22.34 lakh toilets were constructed in the state in Financial Year 2017-18. "A total of 23,597 villages in the state have become open defecation free," said the minister.

After the minister's reply, the House cleared the Budgetary allocation of over Rs 36,000 crore for all the four departments being held by Bhargava.

He holds Social Justice, Disabled Persons Welfare, Panchayat, and Rural Development portfolios.