Activists pay floral tributes to closed public toilet in Mangaluru

  • | Friday | 13th July, 2018

MANGALURU: When the public toilet near the busy PVS Circle remained closed for over a year after renovation, activists held a novel protest by offering floral tributes by placing wreaths at its door. “We have spoken to many officials including engineers of the MCC, requesting them to open the public toilet and thereby keep the area clean. We have been requesting officials to open the toilet since the past six months. “The process of appointing a contractor for the toilet was delayed due to the election code of conduct. In fact, social activists have been requesting MCC officials to open the toilet, which is located at the PVS Circle – Kodialbail road, where hundreds of pedestrians and motorists are in need of such a facility.

MANGALURU: When the public toilet near the busy PVS Circle remained closed for over a year after renovation, activists held a novel protest by offering floral tributes by placing wreaths at its door. They are also planning to observe ‘shraddha’ for the toilet, if the authorities do not reopen it within a week.The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) took up renovation of the toilet a year ago, but they failed to hand over the contract to run it even after the work was over. In fact, social activists have been requesting MCC officials to open the toilet, which is located at the PVS Circle – Kodialbail road, where hundreds of pedestrians and motorists are in need of such a facility. When all their requests went in vain, activists led by Sowraj placed wreaths on the doors of the toilet, that was renovated by the MCC by spending lakhs.Sowraj, who is also part of the Swachh Mangaluru campaign of Ramakrishna Math, told TOI that they decided to perform ‘last rites’ by placing wreaths at the toilet, since MCC officials are reluctant to open it. “We have spoken to many officials including engineers of the MCC, requesting them to open the public toilet and thereby keep the area clean. We have been requesting officials to open the toilet since the past six months. Though the contractor had finished the construction work by fitting all sanitary wear a year ago, the MCC could not finalise tenders to run it. “Since the toilet remains closed, and officials failed to respond to our requests, we decided to hold a novel protest by holding a last rites ceremony. We will wait for one more week and thereafter another protest will be held by observing a mock shraddha ceremony, considering the toilet dead,” he said.“The renovated toilet was fitted with sanitary ware, electric wires and water supply pipes, but most of them have been either destroyed or stolen now,” he said. “Since PVS Circle is a major junction, many people are in need of toilet facilities in the area. Many end up urinating on the walls by the side of the road, when they find that toilets are closed,” Sowraj said.MCC environment engineer Madhu S Manohar said the process of appointing a new contractor to run the toilet is under way. “The process of appointing a contractor for the toilet was delayed due to the election code of conduct. We will complete the tender process to appoint a new contractor within a week, and the toilet may be opened within 10 days,” he added.

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