Nine pay-and-use toilets constructed by the City Municipal Council three years ago have not been opened for public use.
In one case, a pay-and-use toilet located in front of the KEB community hall was inaugurated seven years, but was locked up soon after and remains closed to this day.
Another public toilet built near Sarvajna Park, with State Finance Commission grants during 2007-08 years, was inaugurated by Minister Varthur Prakash, but instead of serving as an urinal, it is a tile-floored store-room for roadside vendors.
A sulabh public toilet at Kurubarapete is open for use, but not as a public toilet. Instead, it is a cattle shed, with fodder stored in the pathway, making it easy for cattle to reach a meal.
Another toilet on the district hospital road, inaugurated on July 10, 2005, by Union Minister K H Muniyappa, still graces posters showing K Srinivasgowda, the-then district-in-charge minister, but does not grace members of the public, as it is still closed. Toilets near the deputy commissioner’s office and Brindavan Circle are being well used to tackle waste, but only that generated by processed sugarcane.
As the CMC has spent lakhs in the construction of these toilets, the public has expressed disappointment that they continue to be denied their use.
“Public toilets should be open for use. It will really help people coming from far away places, students and women especially. The CMC should consider it seriously,” say Girija of Sri Lakshminarayana Charitable Trusts, and Bhagyalakshmi of Kusumanjali Nirantara Ulitaya team.
“If the tender period has lapsed, then a new tender should be called and allotted for maintenance,” says Maheshrao Kadam of Youth Sports Association of Karanjikatte.
With the diversion of toilets for other uses, residents complain that filth has accumulated in public spaces, including the Government Boys’ College.
“As the toilets are always closed, people sneak into the college compound and dirty up the premises. It is not possible to check on miscreants everyday,” said C A Ramesh, an
Associate Professor at the college.
“Negligence of CMC officers and peoples’ representatives in providing basic facilities is
the reason behind such problems,” said Ramachandra, a teacher.
Although informed of the situation, taluk officers have not taken any action.