On world toilet day the much hyped Thane's first AC toilet and E-Toilets of Navi Mumbai now in defunct state
On World Toilet Day, which is observed on today, the two fast-growing and emerging city of Thane and Navi Mumbai have their toilets in defunct state, in spite of the fact that the sanitation and health issue is on the priority list of the Centre.
While the much-hyped first AC toilet of the Indian Railways was in a sorry state, with clogged drains and uncleaned, the Navi Mumbai's recently launched e-toilets on Thane-Belapur road too were in bad condition.
Since 2001, the World Toilet Day is being celebrated every year on November 19 to improve the sanitation and health facilities. Apart from the rural and tribal areas, the major problem of toilets in the 21st century has increased in the metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai too. Women and senior citizens are affected the most due to the unavailability of the toilets.
Three months ago, 14 e-toilets were inaugurated in Navi Mumbai with the budget of Rs1.5 crore and of these, eight were placed on the Thane-Belapur road, which are now in defunct state.
The e-toilet opposite Reliance IT Park at Rabale and near Airoli were not working, while one of the toilets has a defunct flush.
"We are troubled a lot. Sometimes, the coin gets stuck, but the door doesn't open and there is no water in the tanks too," said Sushma Narayan, a resident of Rabale.
On being asked what the commuters should do in case they want to use the toilet, Mangesh Patil from the Navi Mumba Municipal Corporation (NMMC), advised to use another toilet. "We will rectify the problem as the water doesn't flow and coins often get stuck, while at times, the coin is not inserted properly. We are looking into the issue," he said.
At Thane station, the Indian Railways first AC toilet for the disabled and women was in a bad state too with garbage and filth clogging the drains, and the men urinals had unbearable stink.
"Due to AC's cool air, we cannot breathe as the fouls smell fills the air and the toilets are choked-up due to the piled up garbage inside," said Rekha Singh, a commuter.
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