The flagship programme undertaken by the BMC along with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) received a green signal as 21 proposed public toilets received location and land clearance.
However the capital city with over eight lakh population, is yet to have a decent number of operational public or community toilets to cater to the demand. The lack of proper sanitation within the city creates hindrance especially for the female population. “I have to look for a shopping mall if I need to use a toilet,” said Mamta Singh, a management student.
A majority of the city’s population is unaware of the existing toilets, let alone use them. BMC, in collaboration with BMGF has proposed a total of 87 toilets out of which 27 will be public toilets and the rest 60 will be community ones. The 27 public toilets have been taken up in the first phase out of which 21 have received the clearance. “These new toilets are being made with the objective to understand the needs of the community and to focus on maintenance of the toilets.” said BMC Commissioner Vishal K Dev. There are 38 public toilets, constructed by the BMC under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
But most of them are either damaged or are not maintained. But the model project initiated by the BMGF is the first of its kind in the country that has been launched on an experimental basis. There are provisions to replicate the model in the rest of the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) of the State.
“In a recent meeting, the Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department evincing interest in the project, wanted the replication of the model to start simultaneously in other ULBs,” said Dev. Interestingly, BMC will receive a bonus of Rs 2 crore for replicating 50 public toilets under this model, from BMGF. The Provisions like appointing a caretaker for the toilets for hygiene will hold utmost importance. “If successful, the model will be replicated across the country,” said Dev.
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