To stop open defecation,civic body collects data on public toilets

“We are taking a count of toilet blocks in the city for both women and men,” said B P Patil,Chief Engineer,Solid Waste Management. Based on the data,more toilets will be constructed under the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project.

“The state government has given a directive to stop open defecation in cities. We are studying and recording areas and places where open defecation takes place and based on the data collected,we will prepare a report of how many toilets are required,” said Patil.

According to Patil,the data collected will primarily include number of toilets available along the railway stations and railway lines.

“Open defecation is common outside railway stations and along tracks. Slum population living along the tracks and commuters use the open space for unrination,” said an official involved in the project.

He added,“While there is a dire need to construct more public toilets in the city,there is no detailed data available on the existing toilets blocks. The survey would include number of pay-and-use toilets around railway stations,their exact locations,ownership of land,which NGO is running it and if there is a need to upgrade the facilities.”

The BMC has also started the process of surveying the Eastern and Western Express Highways to find out spots where sanitation facilities are needed the most.