New Delhi: The Centre has sanctioned Rs 419 crore to Karnataka to build individual household toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ramesh Jigajinagi, told reporters here on Tuesday that the state had received more funds than what it had asked for (Rs 253 crore) to expedite construction of toilets.

Jigajinagi said the state had spent Rs 240 crore under the scheme.

"Around 27 taluks and five districts - Udupi, Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada have been declared free from open defecation," he said.