Toilet blocks must be in working condition

The toilets, which were built around a decade ago in the Vasai chawl

Decrepit toilets, which do not have doors, leave alone water or electricity, in a Vasai chawl are forcing people to defecate in the open. The women can use the toilets, constructed by the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation a decade ago, only before dawn or after sunset.

Women of the sprawling complex claimed that there has been no maintenance on these toilets. The horror story goes further to drug addicts frequenting the spot, and the residents claim it is these miscreants who have thrown the doors in the gutters.

The dilapidation and no illumination makes this doubly dangerous for users, especially women. As per a report in this paper, the authorities have claimed that they would go and check on the status of these toilets and then see what action could be taken for repairs and maintenance.

Also read: IN PHOTOS: 'Toilets with no doors, no water, no electricity'

Yet, this tale is an unfortunately familiar one, where public infra is made with customary fanfare only to fall apart for a myriad of reasons.

While one may not ‘guard' infra and cannot for 24 hours, periodic checks are necessary. It is also imperative that complaints are looked into. Surprise checks, scrutiny to see that anti-social elements do not take over a facility or spot, adequate lighting should be high priority areas for authorities.

This incident is ironic as we are trying to build even more toilets, touting cleanliness consciousness and open-defecation free streets. When we have these grandiose plans and aims we have to look at the long-term picture. We cannot make amenities and then leave them to decay as that is a waste of taxpayers' money too.

Civic officials must ensure timely action on these complaints. Toilet blocks have to be in good, working condition, to serve the purpose for which they were built.