New public toilets remain locked

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 13

The city has got the tag of open defecation free (ODF), but most of the toilets built to achieve the target remain under lock. If anyone is found defecating in the open, a penalty of Rs 500 is imposed upon him.

In June 2018, the Municipal Corporation (MC) had declared the city free of open defecation and a preliminary resolution was passed. After that, the final resolution was passed in August 2018. Six months later, the civic body got the ODF certificate in March 2019.

In the recent House meeting, the MC had passed a resolution to impose Rs 500 as penalty for defecating in the open. However, the infrastructure developed to serve the purpose is inadequate and people can be seen defecating in the open.

In the absence of toilet facility at Nehru Shopping Complex, one of the top markets in the city, the night workers defecate on the rooftop of building.

The Municipal Corporation has installed toilet booths at various locations but these are still locked. Mayor Karmajit Singh Rintu said a private company has been hired for the operation and maintenance of toilet booths and it will start functioning soon.