Mumbai: Already under criticism for the unhygienic and filthy state of community toilets, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) is now earning public ire due to door-less loos at one such facility in Bhayandar West. Torn gunny bags double up as curtains at the door-less community toilet in Jai Ambe Nagar, a sprawling slum cluster near the station. The worst affected are women commuters.
Mumbai Doorless Toilets: Torn Gunny Bags Used As Curtains At Public Loo In Bhayandar | Suresh Golani
The twin-city has 201 community toilet complexes, comprising more than 3,500 toilet seats, and most of them were built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) under the Nirmal Abhiyan.
Stop gap arrangement
Following several complaints regarding shabby work, the civic administration had terminated the contract of maintaining public toilets awarded to a private agency. As a stop gap arrangement, the conservancy workers attached to the MBMC have been roped in to maintain them after the termination of the contract.
Local social activist Ganesh Baamne said, “The MBMC has bagged several awards for cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). However, the ground reality projects a different image though.”
Mumbai Doorless Toilets: Torn Gunny Bags Used As Curtains At Public Loo In Bhayandar | Suresh Golani
Similar other complaints
Similar complaints regarding uncleanliness, unsanitary conditions, broken seats and doors are pouring in from various parts of the twin-city. Another community toilet located in the Pandurang Wadi area of Kashimira was found to be overflowing with excreta posing a health hazard to citizens living in the locality. However, officials claimed that they cleared the clogged pipes and sewer system with the help of sucking machines immediately after receiving the complaint.
“We have received complaints regarding lack of needed facilities at some of the community toilets. Sanitary inspectors have also been instructed to immediately rectify the anomalies and ensure that citizens do not face any inconvenience,” said a senior MBMC officer.
