Swachh City Survekshan: Open defecation can play spoilsport

AMRITSAR: Open defecation, non-availability of urinals and toilets in most of the city markets and localities may affect the city’s ranking in the Swachh City Survekshan 2018. A Central Government’s team is in the city to observe sanitation. According to information, the team has come across residents urinating on walls.

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 17

Open defecation, non-availability of urinals and toilets in most of the city markets and localities may affect the city’s ranking in the Swachh City Survekshan 2018. A Central Government’s team is in the city to observe sanitation. According to information, the team has come across residents urinating on walls.

A large number of public toilets are lying defunct in the city. Some of them have been encroached upon by roadside vendors. Tourists and visitors face inconvenience in market areas as public toilets are in a pathetic state.

Jagdish Singh Mitha, a social activist, said,” Thousands of pilgrims visit the city everyday. There are more than 10 major markets in the walled city where no public toilet is available. Woman visitors face major inconvenience. The MC should construct public toilets in the markets in the walled city.”

The MC has also failed to make the city open defecation free (ODF). As per the Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines, the ODF is the most important component in the mission. Several houses in the outer areas of the city are sans toilets. Labourers and slum dwellers still defecate in the open.

Dr Raju Chowan, Municipal Health Officer, said, “We have planned to construct 41 toilets in the outer city areas. We will construct 23 community toilets and 19 public toilets. Apart from this, 11 toilets will be constructed around Golden Temple. Existing toilets will be renovated.”

The Municipal Corporation had conducted a survey to identify the locations for urinals and toilets.

Most of the walls, on which passersby pee almost everyday, can be seen carrying written messages by residents and shopkeepers nearby to discourage such a practice. Meanwhile, some of the walls carry some derogatory messages to dissuade people.

The Swachh City Ranking team is also getting feedback from people. According to information, the team recorded feedback of 300 persons in the walled city yesterday.