Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The city is facing a severe shortage of public toilets, causing considerable inconvenience to residents. The municipal commissioner G Sreekanth had directed that public toilets be constructed at 10 locations across the city. Accordingly, seven toilets have been completed, but their inauguration has been delayed due to minor pending works. City Engineer Sanjay Kombade has instructed that all remaining works be completed within the next eight to ten days.
An estimated ₹25 to ₹27 lakh has been spent on each toilet. The completed facilities are located at the municipal corporation headquarters, Dr Salim Ali Lake, Kamal Talao, N-6 Vegetable Market, Siddharth Garden, API Corner flyover, and Town Hall flyover. However, some locations are yet to be connected to the drainage line, ramps for persons with disabilities have not been constructed at certain sites, and water supply arrangements are pending at a few places. Due to these issues, the toilets have remained unopened.
Last week, the civic chief directed that all toilets be made operational at the earliest. Following this, the City Engineer held a review meeting with the concerned officials to assess the status of work at each site. It was found that only minor works were pending, and contractors have been instructed to complete them on a war footing.
Support to swachh bharat mission
Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, a central government inspection team visits every year for assessment. Owing to the shortage of public toilets in a city with a population of 1.8 to 2 million, the municipal corporation has been receiving lower marks annually. The administration is now making efforts to ensure that all toilets are operational before the central assessment team’s visit, which is likely in the first week of March.