The ambitious plan of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to install as many as 24,464 community-based toilet seats across the metropolitan region has given a glimmer of hope for the city. But there are barely five officers to monitor the functioning of the toilets.
“The role of MMRDA in this project is that of a facilitator,” said CK Patil, the project in-charge. “The corporations and councils are to come up with suitable sites. With help from NGOs, they are to construct the toilet seats. We are providing them with the finance.” He added that five community development officers (CDOs) are monitoring the work of the sites which are fully functional.
When asked about the maintenance of the toilet seats, Patil said that it was the responsibility of the urban local bodies. However, he confirmed that MMRDA has only five officers to monitor the functioning of around 575 toilet sites which have been completed.
When contacted, additional metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas said, “Steps will be taken to ensure that these sites are adequately maintained," he said.
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