BMC scraps pay and use toilets, invites union’s ire

Civic chief Ajoy Mehta’s decision to scrap ‘pay and use’ toilets across Mumbai invites ire from public toilets association.

The civic chief has scrapped the concept while presenting the fiscal year budget 2018-19 providing major relief to Mumbaikars from the loot. However, the public toilets operator association is unhappy with the civic corporation move and raised strong objection on it.

On Wednesday they also visited the Brihanmumbai Mu- nicipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters to meet Mehta and the political leaders with a plea to not scrap the concept.

Palji Rabhadiya the president of public toilet operators association while speaking to Free Press Journal stated it’s unfair to make such announcements without involving the people who are associated with it from years.

"Under Swachh Bharat Mission BMC is improving its ranking but the ranking improvement is not because of BMC's hardwork or dedication, but it’s because of our efforts. Also, the NGOs who are maintaining these public toilets bear all expenses like electricity bill, water bill and salary of the employees, therefore BMC cannot scrap the concept completely."

In Mumbai in total there are 1,100 public toilets and around 2,00 NGOs who are maintaining these toilets.

Meanwhile the BMC by scrapping the pay and use toilets concept has decided to earn income through advertisement hoardings. The civic corporation will display illuminated advertisements on these toilet blocks and collect revenue.