Lack of space: BMC identifies dead end of roads to construct toilets
The BMC’s failure to construct adequate number of toilets for women in the city, has frequently been attributed to a ‘lack of space’ by its authorities. However, the civic body has now devised a smart plan that may fix the problem, to an extent.
The BMC’s failure to construct adequate number of toilets for women in the city, has frequently been attributed to a ‘lack of space’ by its authorities. However, the civic body has now devised a smart plan that may fix the problem, to an extent.
According to an official from the solid waste management department of the BMC, a proposal has been framed to construct toilets at the dead end of city roads.
Once approved by municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte, the idea would be easier to implement, because of two reasons. One, such locations are usually free from traffic and hence, getting a nod from the traffic police will be easier to carry out the construction.
Secondly, it would not exactly contradict a civic road department's circular, issued about six years ago, prohibiting any sort of construction on footpaths or roads, including toilets.
Deputy municipal commissioner of SWM department Prakash Patil confirmed the move, saying: “Once approved, we will identify such locations and construct toilets there.” He said the proposal is being framed considering the problem of lack of space to construct toilets.
Currently, there are 1,035 public toilets with 13,441 seats in Mumbai, of which, only 5,136 are for women.
Through a circular issued by the SWM department on January 24, 2013, the BMC had sought a list of sites where toilets could be built for women, from all the 24 civic wards in the city, who in turn were asked to submit the details within 15 days.
However, the response was poor, following which the project failed to take off, despite having a budget allocation of Rs75 lakh.
However, repeated follow ups by activists of the Right to Pee campaign, who have been demanding better public toilet facilities for women since 2011, have compelled the BMC to act.
The campaign comprises representatives of 30 NGOs across the city. In October last year, a 10-member committee comprising BMC and NGO representatives was formed to look into the issue.
Supriya Sonar, one of the activists, welcomed the move but said it is important that the BMC ensures regular maintenance of the toilets. “Dead end of the roads are the fine, but the locations should be safe,” she added.