BBMP's failed trial ahead of Swachh Bharat survey

Bengaluru is short of 1,100 public toilets to reach the guidelines issued by the Swachh Bharat Mission for public toilets. Ahead of the Swachh Bharat survey, the finding by an NGO underscores the lack of civic amenities in the city.

The guidelines issued by the Swachh Bharat Mission for public toilets gives directions to provide one public toilet complex for every seven kilometres. However, the survey by Janaagraha shows that there is just one public toilet complex for every 24 kilometres.

The toilets also suffer from lack of maintenance. As it was discovered that though most toilets seem to be in a usable condition, they lack functioning flushes or dustbins. About 204 of toilets have scored zero in the survey that marked them based on the amenities available.

The condition of the city parks, playgrounds and open spaces is equally disappointing according to the survey. Some of these parks lack basic facilities such as lights and remain locked all through the day.

The two-month long survey was conducted by an expert team and the data has been collected through 10 questions framed for each category. "The BBMP has to work to provide the basic infrastructure. It is a good move that they are actually calling for tenders and have issued job codes but it will matter only if properly done," said Sapna Karim, Head, civic participation, Janaagraha.

Sarfaraz Khan, joint commissioner, Health and Solid Waste Management, BBMP said, "Recently we have been granted some funds under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and we have also held a meeting regarding this issue. We will have all toilets properly functioning with all the amenities by the end of December 31."

The Swachh Survekshan-2018 covering all 4,041 Indian cities will begin in January and the results are expected to be announced by March-end.