Open in(convenience) at Rose Garden

Rajinder Nagarkoti

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 3

Don’t be surprised if you see a person urinating in the open right in the middle of Rose Garden, Sector 16. With the installation of waterless urinals, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is indirectly encouraging open urination in the city’s main tourist spot -- Rose Garden. 

Visitors, especially women, are finding it difficult to walk in Rose Garden after the introduction of the facility by the MC. In February, during the Rose Festival, the MC had installed four such open waterless urinals for males. At that time there were curtains. However, now people are urinating in the open as there are no curtains. These urinals have been installed right adjacent to the main washrooms. MC Chief Engineer NP Sharma said these had been installed on a trail basis and would be removed. Tanu, a college student, who was at Rose Garden, said it showed the mindset of officials. “How could they imagine it'll be acceptable, that too at a famous tourist spot.” “Is this how officials are implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Chandigarh?" asked another visitor, Varun Gupta.   

Resident speak

"It’s sad that a man urinating in the open is not frowned upon but a woman has to hunt for a washroom to answer the nature’s call. It’s reprehensible."

Gurjusjit Singh, a regular visitor

"The urinals were only for the Rose Festival. I will seek a report from the MC official concerned."

Ravi Kant Sharma, area councillor

"Being a regular walker for the past 25 years at Rose Garden, I think this is a mindless effort. It is embarrassing for women passing by as well as for the person urinating in the open."

Paramjit Latta, a resident of Sector 15

"The open urinals, which are waterless, were installed on a trial basis at Rose Garden. We will remove these as the feedback from the public is not good."

NP Sharma, MC Chief Engineer