Public urinals are no BBMP business

Public urinals are no BBMP business


Faiza HaneefFirst Published : 15 Oct 2009 04:21:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 15 Oct 2009 07:42:32 AM IST
BANGALORE: IT generates highest revenue to the state, yet the central business district in the city is denied even a basic facility like public urinals.
For about five sq km, there are just two public toilets— one on the Avenue Road and one near Sharada talkies.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which maintains public urinals across the city, has failed to set up one in the vicinity of its own head office, located near NR Square.
For traders near the BBMP head office and people who wait for buses in front of the office, attending nature’s call is a big problem. So they are left with no option but to deface the compound walls.
“In emergency situations, we have no option but to use the public place,” said Raghavan, owner of a xerox stall on Cubbonpet Road.
There is one toilet inside the BBMP compound, but its use is restricted to the employees, he added.
“The nearest toilet is the one on Avenue Road, but we cannot go there leaving our shops unattended,” said a trader. “It is surprising that the Palike that is maintaining so many toilets across the city does not have one near its office,” said a traffic cop attached to the Halsurgate police station.
The traders are now planning to bring this shortage to the notice of BBMP soon.
BK Goyal, secretary, Bangalore Central Traders’ Association, told Express that BBMP must come up with the concept of free toilets in commercial places.
“Even women move around in the commercial places and therefore there is requirement for public toilets in these places. As BBMP has joined hands with the Resident Welfare Associations, they should do the same with the traders associations as well and only then we can take care and maintain these places,” he said, adding that BBMP commissioner Bharat Lal Meena has assured him that the issue will be addressed soon.
“BBMP has a ready excuse saying that they don’t find adequate space to construct a toilet or two. There is plenty of space available,” Goyal contended.