NewsKarnataka-Karkala

Karkala : The Sulabh Shauchalay at the Karkala  bus stand premises is stinking due to poor maintenance since the past few days. The allegation is that Sulabh International which is in charge of the maintenance of the toilet  has become merely profit minded and has forgotten its social obligations.

The then TMC administration  had  signed an agreement with Sulabh International to maintain the public toilet  in the building donated by private donors in the bus stand premises.Though initially, the public  lavatory was well maintained, as days passed by public began to complain.Though the mater came up for discussion at several TMC meetings, the condition of the lavatory failed to improve.

Of late the toilet is stinking and has turned out to a shelter place for drunkards as is evident from the discarded liquor  bottles. To add to it some vulgar writings are also seen on the walls.

Though the Karkala TMC had requested Sulabh International not to charge any fee from public using the toilet for urination, the organisation was collecting Rs 1 for using the urinal, while   Rs 3 is collected from those   who use the toilet.

Moreover, the lavatory also  faced shortage of water  owing to defective pipeline. On March 17, Monday, a group of citizens was even seen pulling up the Sulabh staff for poor maintenance of the toilet.

Apathetic TMC : The public lavatory at the extended bus stand is the only such public toilet in the town. Though a public toilet was also constructed in the new bus stand area,  that has been locked up as private buses do not enter this bus stand. Even the toilet in the old bus stand area has been closed as it was not in good condition.

It is nothing but a tragedy that the  Health inspectors and other authorities in Karkala TMC have chosen against diverting attention to this problem.