PMC to build 26 public toilets in two months

PANVEL: The Panvel Municipal Council (PMC) has taken part in the Swachh Maharashtra Abhiyan to make the city open-defecation free. In this context, it has initiated the process to build public toilets in the region.

Tenders have been called for the construction of 26 public toilets which are expected to be ready in around two months at a cost of Rs1.25 crore.

Along with the rise in residential population, Panvel is also witnessing a rise in the moving working population.

› We have decided that every slum colony will have a 10-seat public toilet. Each toilet is expected to cost Rs4.83 lakh. A period of 45 days will be given to the contractor once the tender is allotted.

RAJU SONI, public works committee chairman

Daily wage workers do not get houses to stay as they cannot afford the rent. They make their shanties wherever they get space.

Laxmi colony, Navnath Nagar, Valmiki Nagar, Maldhakka and Lokhandipada area of Panvel have large slum colonies. While the PMC has provided water in these areas, there are issues of sewage and inadequate public toilets. While some slums do have public toilets, they are inadequate for the large population that resides there.

Public works committee chairman Raju Soni said, “We have taken up the construction of public toilets to resolve the problem of open-defecation which is certainly not right in this age in a city like Panvel.”

“We have decided that every slum colony will have a 10-seat public toilet. Each toilet is expected to cost Rs4.83 lakh. A period of 45 days will be given to the contractor once the tender is allotted,” said Soni.

“The tenders will be called between January 18 and 27. On February 1, we will open the tenders and finalise the contractor,” said Soni.

He said, “At present, there are 10 public toilets that have been given to various social institutions to operate. We will now have 26 more such public toilets soon, the process for which, has begun.”