UP Elections 2017: Open defecation, lack of toilets nag Varanasi's ghats

In 2015, two young women Temsutula Imsong and Darshika Shah ushered a change in the ghats of Varanasi. They took up a humongous task to clean up Prabhu ghat, one of the filthiest ghats of the city.

#MissionPrabhughat, as they called it was an instant success. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who represents the Varanasi constituency, took note of the initiative and showered praises on the women who radically transformed the ghat in just about a month.

Two years down the line, Nagaland native Imsong, who had then called out for better sanitation facilities at the ghats then, admits not many public toilets have come up on the ghats and open defecation still remains a major issue in many of them.

"The ghats have become cleaner than what it used to be in the last four years. But, open defecation still remains a problem in most ghats," she said, adding that there are not many bio toilets present at the ghats at present.

She, however, added that the problem of open defecation is more to do with the mindset of the people than that of adequate toilets on the ghats.

"There is a logistical difficulty in bringing about a permanent toilet on the ghats. So, only temporary toilet structures can work on the ghats," said the Nagaland native, now a Varanasi resident.

The temple city and its ghats are inseparable. The city's 84 ghats spread over 7.5 kilometers on river Ganga are also a huge source of tourist attraction and are thronged by thousands everyday. However, there are only about five to six toilets on the ghats so far, some locked and some dirty.

Varanasi mayor and BJP leader Ram Gopal Mohley also admits to lack of toilets on the ghats. He says the Nagar Nigam of Varanasi has plans of putting up temporary toilets on at least 24 ghats of the 84.

"Varanasi has an everyday floating population of 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh. The previous governments have not put any focus on the city's infrastructure. As far as ghats are concerned, there was a PIL on construction of permanent structures on ghats and a committee has been deliberating on it," he said, adding that 24 temporary toilets will soon be put up on the ghats.

He added that under the Centre's Namami Gange programme, Rs 5 crore has already been allocated for Varanasi's ghats.

"There would be separate changing rooms and toilets," he asserted.

However, the topic of the ghats' cleanliness remains a touchy topic with people having a divided opinion on the issue.

While locals say the ghats are way cleaner than what they used to be at one point of time, most foreigners who have been frequently visiting Varanasi for years, have a different opinion.

Natan Havkin, a 53-year-old Israel resident has been coming to the Varanasi since 2013 to learn yoga and play tabla.

He, however, has not seen much difference in the cleanliness on ghats.

"But I must admit that they are cleaned everyday. But, they clean when we come over in the evening, and by the time people leave, the ghats are dirty," he says, admitting that at present they lack basic amenities like toilets.

Similarly, Christer, 29, from England says the ghats are not as clean as they would like them to be, but he has been coming to Varanasi for the last four years to learn classical vocals.

"I have seen workers sweeping the ghats, and stainless steel dustbins have also been put here, but a lot of garbage come floating with the river. Then the remains of burned bodies and flowers and wood also makes Ghats dirty," he said.

However, locals say till two years ago, they could not have believed ghats could even be this clean.

"The ghats were way dirtier just about two years ago. Whatever filth you see is because of the lack of maintenance by people who visit them," said Satish Pandey, a local shopkeeper.