18 July,2017 08:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Santosh Wagh
Following mid-day's report about brides refusing alliances due to the lack of sanitation, BMC sanctions two-storey toilet complex in Mulund's Ramgarh Nagar
BMC has provided a mobile toilet in the locality. Pics/Rajesh Gupta
Ramgarh Nagar's young men will no longer have to remain bachelors. Acting on mid-day's July 15 report on how they were unable to find brides due to the lack of loos, the BMC has finally decided to build more toilets there. The civic body has already provided a mobile toilet and will soon also begin constructing a two-storey toilet block.
Officials are considering building another toilet block in the community centre
This paper had reported on Saturday that there were just 59 toilets in Ramgarh Nagar, which has a population of 17,000 residents. Many of the residents are forced to either wait for hours for their turn, or travel to other parts of Mulund to find an available loo. The problem has only become worse in the monsoon, as the toilets are choking.
Also read - 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' in Mumbai? 'Brides' reject Mulund youths over lack of loos in area
Kishore Gandhi, additional municipal commissioner T-ward (right) Social worker Rajesh Jadhav has been fighting the BMC on this issue for five years
Two days after mid-day's report, BMC workers turned up on Monday and cleaned the toilets in the area and also cleared the septic tank with a suction pump. Locals also got a mobile toilet with 10 cubicles - five for women and five for men.
BMC's plans
Kishore Gandhi, additional municipal commissioner (T-ward), said, "I am aware of the situation in the Ramgarh Nagar, we have placed a mobile toilet there for the residents. But that's not the final solution. We are going to expand the existing toilet block in the vicinity into a two-story facility, which will reduce the toilet-to-resident ratio." The toilet expansion will start from October 1, and the existing five booths will be increased to a total of 10 cubicles.
"There is also a community centre in the area that we can turn into a new toilet block, if the residents permit us to develop it," added Gandhi.
mid-day impact
"I have been fighting with the BMC since five years over the shortage of toilets. This lack of toilets has not only brought a bad name to our neighbourhood, but has also raised a health hazard, as our kids are forced to defecate in the open," said Rajesh Jadhav, a social worker.
He added, "I even contacted the local corporator, but there was absolutely no response. But after our problems were highlighted by mid-day I can see things progressing."
On Monday, local corporator Samita Kamble (BJP) also visited the area and made arrangements for the regular cleaning of the toilets.
