Public toilets in all wards to get water, power by March 2017

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will now provide water and electricity across public toilets in all 24 wards by March 2017. According to civic sources, nearly 6,000 public toilets do not have water and electricity. There are a total 17,000 public toilets in the city, out of which a substantial number does not have electricity and water, forcing many users to take other options.

BMC chief Ajoy Mehta said, “I have already given orders to get work done for water and electrical supply. The work is underway and in its last leg.”

BMC-constructed public toilets in slums and near railway stations are in dire need of attention. Locals have been complaining about poor maintenance of these toilets that have no electricity or water supply. Durga Bai, who stays in Shahu Nagar slums in Mahim told The Asian Age, “My children are scared to go to the toilet at night as there is no electricity.”

Siraj Ansari, chief engineer, solid waste management (SWM) department, said “BMC has 17,000 public toilets that are taken care of by the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (Mhada) and other government institutions in terms of civic amenities. BMC will fund the work of toilets and get it done soon since the deadline is March 2017.”

After the toilets are constructed, they will be handed over to local NGOs to be taken care of. More than 6,000 people reside in the slums of Mahim and they have to stand in queues for hours to be able to use toilets. Residents have also complained that the

BMC workers collect a monthly fee of Rs 10 from their houses for cleaning toilets but the toilets still remain filthy. Although the corporator repairs toilets every year, using her funds, cleanliness gets overlooked.