Kamrup (Metro) takes steps to build public toilets

GUWAHATI: After a public outcry, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration has finally selected locations across the city to set up public toilets.
The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has been given the responsibility to finish the task at the earliest.
Altogether 14 locations have been selected in three revenue circles in the city and neighbouring areas.
"The acute shortage of public toilets has been felt for a long time. Now, we need to build the toilets in the city after surveying the plots. The GMC has been given the responsibility to construct and maintain the toilets," said Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner M Angamuthu. The process will take an approximate six months. Accordingly, toilets will be installed at Jalukbari Charilai, Adabari, Maligaon, Bharalu (Guwahati circle), Khanapara, Beltola Bazaar, Basistha Charilai, GMCH (Dispur circles), Garal Bazaar, Bhattapara Chowk and Bhattapara PHE (Azara circle) besides three other places.
Earlier, Gauhati high court had issued notices to the state government, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) to respond to a PIL that had prayed for adequate arrangements for separate public lavatories for women in the city.
The GMC has, in another development, decided to install toilets and develop parking lots under the flyovers in the city to utilize the open spaces for public use. "It's already late for a city like Guwahati to install public toilets. It's a welcome move by the district administration but we hope that these are built on time and maintained properly. We have seen many projects falling by the wayside in the past," Arun Kashyap, a city resident, said.
The number of such public toilets is very little as compared to the population of the city. The GMDA said it had installed public toilets at Machkhowa, Tarun Ram Phukan Park, Nehru Park, State Zoo, Chandmari, Ulubari and Silpukhuri area till last year.