NCP wants names of corporators who want public toilets close to their premises razed

For some time now, elected representatives in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have been after the civic administration for not constructing adequate number of public toilets across the city. But at the same time, they are opposing setting up of public toilets close to their residential or commercial premises. This double standard has irked some corporators who have urged the civic administration to make the names of such members public.

In a proposal tabled before the Women and Child Welfare Committee, NCP corporators Ravindra Malvadkar and Kishore Vitkar said over the years the number of public toilets and urnials have not increased in comparison to population growth.

"It is unfortunate that the PMC decided to pull down public toilets on a demand made by a few persons. This needs to be stopped with immediate effect. Also, the civic administration should get new public toilets constructed from those who forced the removal of the public toilet in the past only to sell the commercial or residential premises of their building," Malvadkar said.

PMC should not accept any demand of removal or shifting of public toilets, he said. "If any such decision is taken, then the PMC should get it shifted within 100 metre of its existing site and the names of those who demand the removal from the present location should be made public."

They said the PMC should frame a policy regarding the issue and should seek suggestion and objection of citizens before taking a decision. There are over 1,000 public toilets and 500 urinals constructed by the PMC with a total capacity of 15,000 blocks.

"The demand made by corporators to remove or shift public toilets from their existing location is common. Various reasons are given for the purpose," said a civic officer. Almost 100 such demands come up every year, he said. "These demands are met only if there are some genuine reasons behind it. At least, 10 proposals of removal or shifting of public toilets is carried out in a year."

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