Only 79 public toilets for Rs 13 lakh people
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Aurangabad Municipal Corporation|Union urban development minister|Shiv Sena|municipal administration
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AURANGABAD: Taking note of shortage of public toilets in the city and poor maintenance of the existing ones, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation
(AMC) had planned to conduct a debate in the general body meeting on
Thursday. However, the meeting was adjourned and the issue has been once
again pushed back.
The city has only 79 public toilets for a population of over 13 lakh. Though, there has been demand to increase the number of toilets, not much has moved in that matter.
The NGO Sulabh International built a new toilet at Harsul T - Point under the AMC's built, operate and transfer (BOT) model this year, taking the total of such washrooms to 21.
Women and students complained about the lack of adequate public toilet facilities in the city. The toilets are located at large distances from each other, proving to be an inconvenience. Shilpa Pathak, a professional, said that there are hardly any toilets for women in the city. "Even if a public washroom is found, it is littered and cannot be used. The civic body has to give serious attention to address the issue," she said.
Shiv Sena group leader Sushil Khedkar said that taking into consideration the large number of tourists visiting the city, there is immediate need to build more public toilets. "But for the past one year, the civic body has failed to improve the system. There are still only 79 public toilets in the city," he said.
Khedkar said some corporators had discussed the issue in the pre-general body meeting on Thursday. "Even the municipal administration is looking to improve the toilet facilities in the city. Unfortunately, the meeting was adjourned. Nevertheless, we will take up the matter in the next meeting and pass a resolution to increase the number of public toilets," he said.
Highlighting the shortage of toilets in the city, corporator Raju Vidya said the general body had already approved proposals of public toilets in many areas in the city including Kranti Chowk, Jyoti Nagar. "Most of the works have not been completed, despite the proposals being approved months ago," he said.
A team of civic officials was in New Delhi on Thursday seeking approval from the Union urban development minister for its ambitious new drainage project, which includes construction of new public toilets. A senior officer in the AMC said that about 198 additional toilets were proposed in the new drainage scheme. "We had made provision of two toilets in each of the 99 wards in the proposed plan for the drainage project. The entire drainage project was worth Rs 365 crore but the central government had asked us to deal the issue of public toilets separately," he said.
He said that the AMC is now planning to approach corporate houses and NGOs to build toilets as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
However, the senior civic officer said that people oppose construction of toilets in the localities. "On several occasions, the civic body had taken a back seat after the residents objected to construction of toilets," he said.
Expressing disappointment over the pathetic condition of public toilets across the city, Ravi Choudhary, member of Prayas group, said that more pay-and-use toilets need to be established on lines with other metro cities.
"The existing toilets in the city are less in number and they are in terrible condition. Any person would avoid using them. If users are asked to pay for it, the toilets will also be maintained properly. It would reduce the number of residents and commuters relieving in open," Choudhary said.
City activist Vijay Diwan said that more awareness needs to be created about maintaining hygiene among people. "Toilets in school, colleges and other private institutions are equally in poor conditions and hence a sense of hygiene needs to be imbibed among people and society," Diwan said.
The city has only 79 public toilets for a population of over 13 lakh. Though, there has been demand to increase the number of toilets, not much has moved in that matter.
The NGO Sulabh International built a new toilet at Harsul T - Point under the AMC's built, operate and transfer (BOT) model this year, taking the total of such washrooms to 21.
Women and students complained about the lack of adequate public toilet facilities in the city. The toilets are located at large distances from each other, proving to be an inconvenience. Shilpa Pathak, a professional, said that there are hardly any toilets for women in the city. "Even if a public washroom is found, it is littered and cannot be used. The civic body has to give serious attention to address the issue," she said.
Shiv Sena group leader Sushil Khedkar said that taking into consideration the large number of tourists visiting the city, there is immediate need to build more public toilets. "But for the past one year, the civic body has failed to improve the system. There are still only 79 public toilets in the city," he said.
Khedkar said some corporators had discussed the issue in the pre-general body meeting on Thursday. "Even the municipal administration is looking to improve the toilet facilities in the city. Unfortunately, the meeting was adjourned. Nevertheless, we will take up the matter in the next meeting and pass a resolution to increase the number of public toilets," he said.
Highlighting the shortage of toilets in the city, corporator Raju Vidya said the general body had already approved proposals of public toilets in many areas in the city including Kranti Chowk, Jyoti Nagar. "Most of the works have not been completed, despite the proposals being approved months ago," he said.
A team of civic officials was in New Delhi on Thursday seeking approval from the Union urban development minister for its ambitious new drainage project, which includes construction of new public toilets. A senior officer in the AMC said that about 198 additional toilets were proposed in the new drainage scheme. "We had made provision of two toilets in each of the 99 wards in the proposed plan for the drainage project. The entire drainage project was worth Rs 365 crore but the central government had asked us to deal the issue of public toilets separately," he said.
He said that the AMC is now planning to approach corporate houses and NGOs to build toilets as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
However, the senior civic officer said that people oppose construction of toilets in the localities. "On several occasions, the civic body had taken a back seat after the residents objected to construction of toilets," he said.
Expressing disappointment over the pathetic condition of public toilets across the city, Ravi Choudhary, member of Prayas group, said that more pay-and-use toilets need to be established on lines with other metro cities.
"The existing toilets in the city are less in number and they are in terrible condition. Any person would avoid using them. If users are asked to pay for it, the toilets will also be maintained properly. It would reduce the number of residents and commuters relieving in open," Choudhary said.
City activist Vijay Diwan said that more awareness needs to be created about maintaining hygiene among people. "Toilets in school, colleges and other private institutions are equally in poor conditions and hence a sense of hygiene needs to be imbibed among people and society," Diwan said.
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