Dilapidated e-toilets raise a stink in Faridabad

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, February 8

Around two years ago, 10 state-of-the-art e-toilets were inaugurated in the city under Rs 2.19 crore Smart City project, which are now in a dilapidated state. These have become defunct due to poor upkeep and maintenance.

“Owing to poor and filthy condition and nobody to clean them on a regular basis, a majority of locals and visitors to the Sector 19 market area are unable to use these facilities,” said Hari Ram, a local. He said the stinking toilets don’t even have proper water supply. He said the automated system in which the toilet doors open after inserting a coin got damaged soon after these were installed.

“I have not seen any employee or staff of the MC or Faridabad Smart City Limited (FSCL) for the past several months cleaning and carrying out repairs here,” said Roshan, a shopkeeper from the Old Faridabad Market.

The FSCL had come up with these toilets in Old Faridabad Market, Sector 19 market, Sector 21D and Saheed Bhagat Singh Chowk near Sector 28 under the Area Based Development of the Smart City Project worth Rs 2,600 crore. The FSCL Board of Directors on May 20 last year had reported that due to vandalism and misuse, the contractor had closed these e-toilets. “He may be blacklisted after issuance of a notice, it was claimed in an FSCL report, which added that appropriate action be taken against the firm or contractor,” said an official.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.