Maharashtra: CM Fadnavis assures 1 lakh more toilets to end open defecation in Mumbai

Admitting that the city of Mumbai needs almost one lakh toilet blocks to put an end to open defecation, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) would be directed to prepare a time-bound programme for constructing the same.

The chief minister was replying to a call attention motion brought in by MLAs Sunil Raut, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Varsha Gaikwad, Amin Patel, Aslam Shaikh, Ashish Shelar, Mangalprabhat Lodha, Abu Azmi and others in the Assembly.

Fadnavis said that standard norms for providing toilets have been laid down under the Swachh Maharashtra Mission. As per this, there should be atleast one toilet seat per 35 men and one toilet seat for 25 women. Mumbai, however, has one toilet seat for 50 people.

He said under the programme, one lakh toilet blocks would be built in Mumbai. Half of this would be earmarked for women. The construction would be completed by December next year, he further said.

He also informed that all the municipal corporations have been instructed to build toilet blocks by utilising the portion of reserve funds.

Ashish Shelar pointed out that the claim that over one lakh toilet blocks were provided with 24-hour water supply and electricity is far from reality. While Varsha Gaikwad demanded a policy for construction and maintenance of toilets, especially for women, Aslam Shaikh demanded a time-bound plan for the same.