Women’s toilets in city made functional on CM’s order
RELIEF Defunct public toilet blocks at 1090 Women Powerline Crossing and Smarak Sthal get water supply, lighting and cleaning staff
LUCKNOW: A week after chief minister Akhilesh Yadav announced at the HT Woman Awards ceremony that clean public washrooms for women will be made available in the city as well as on highways, the district administration got the defunct toilet blocks at 1090 Women Powerline Crossing and Smarak Sthal repaired. The toilets are now fully functional with improved facilities.
Following the CM’s announcement, district magistrate Raj Shekhar, accompanied by secretary, Lucknow Development Authority SC Verma and an official from Smarak Samiti and others inspected the condition of the washrooms on Saturday.
The DM said that proper water supply, lighting and cleanliness had been ensured in the washrooms to make them fully functional.
A total staff of 30 people, including a manager, supervisors, sweepers and security guards has been deputed on round-the-clock duty at the washrooms that will remain open for women 24x7. Instructions have been issued to display the duty chart and names of duty staff/officials on the walls so that people are aware of these details.
During the HT Woman award function, Akhilesh Yadav had announced that more public toilets would be constructed for women - even on highways. “We will soon start building clean public washrooms for women, not only in Lucknow but also on highways,” he had said at the ceremony.
Citing a recent incident in the state capital, the CM had said that lack of such facilities often endangered the security of women.
While inspecting the washrooms, the district magistrate instructed officials to ensure that glow signage / retro reflective large signage were displayed at the toilet blocks, at the crossroad and at every 200 metres on all the roads leading up to 1090 Crossing and the Smarak Sthal.
“This will help people know the exact location of the public utility services,” said Raj Shekhar.
A new water cooler and filter was also installed close by for public convenience.
Instructions were issued to the Smarak Samiti to develop the planned parking area near 1090 Crossing, which has been lying unused for the last five years.