Residents complain that the only toilet block available for nearly 3,000 families living in ‘G’ Block jhuggis in Jahangirpuri area is in shambles. Despite complaints to municipal bodies, no new toilets have been built in the area for past eight years, allege residents.
“During monsoons the area outside the toilets used to get flooded with waste flowing on the main road. It is unfortunate that Delhi is not getting enough rains this year but we are happy for this, otherwise dirty water would have entered our houses,” said Naisar Ali, a resident.
Sheikh Tawir, another resident, pointed out that none of the municipal workers take the responsibility of cleaning the set of two-three toilets in the building.The walls are half-broken and residents say they have to rebuild the toilets on their own.
The roof leaks and the toilets are dirty and unhygienic as there is no adequate water supply. “We form groups to clean the area whenever possible as there is no sewer system for the toilets. We take out extra water and clean the waste with pumps but since they are being overused it becomes difficult to maintain the area,” said Tawir. Residents also complained of walking a kilometre to look for another toilet as the two toilets built in D Block have recently been broken down. They had approached Mangat Ram, the area MLA with a request of building additional toilets in the area but he said it will take time as it is the job of municipal corporation. “We are left with no other option but to deviate the flow of the water towards a nearby drain,” said one of the residents.
Despite bringing these facts to the notice of the municipal corporation’s director of sanitation and the deputy commissioner six months ago nothing has been done to rectify the issue.
Some lawyer-activists have even sent letters to the commissioner of North Delhi Municipal Corporation to raise the issue, but to no avail. “We will wait for a few days and if no action is taken we will take the matter to the High Court by filing a public interest litigation,” said Ashok Agarwal, a senior advocate.