Hotels shoo away citizens from using loos

Petrol bunk owners and hotels are not allowing public to use toilets.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) intended to install toilets in commercial establishments for public use as a gracious gesture but the hoteliers and petrol bunk owners were taken off guard.

The corporation has taken the consent of 279 hotels and 277 petrol bunks for letting their toilets to be used by the public.

Only a mere 10 per cent of them approved.

According to a GHMC official, it has come to the notice of the corporation that most of them, who have submitted consent certificates to the civic body, are not allowing citizens to use public toilets.

The official said that the corporation is contemplating to conduct counselling sessions with hoteliers and petrol bunk owners in this regard.

The officials also claimed that even 10 per cent was not a small number and the GHMC will ensure the comfort of citizens and chalk out mechanisms to put 100 per cent toilets in commercial establishments for public use.

The GHMC official further said that 132 buildoperate-and-transfer (BOT) toilets, 46 Sulabh complexes, 12 community toilets can now be used by citizens. He said that in addition to this, 71 public toilets are under construction which include 44 BOTs, 26 she-toilets (under the Corporate Social Responsibility) and an electronic toilet at Fever Hospital, sponsored by the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).