Broadening the scope of their battle for provision of sufficient number of toilets in the city, women campaigners of the ‘Right to Pee’ movement have demanded reservation for urinals in the city’s revised development plan.
Broadening the scope of their battle for provision of sufficient number of toilets in the city, women campaigners of the ‘Right to Pee’ movement have demanded reservation for urinals in the city’s revised development plan.
The campaigners insist that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should recommend reservation for public toilets for a certain populace and distance in the revised development plan that will take shape in 2014. There is no reservation for toilets in the city’s existing development plan for a populace of 1.25 crore.
“There has to be some kind of recommendation for the availability of toilets (with urinals) for a certain number of people in the development plan. If there is no provision for toilets in the plan, there will be no funds allotted for it in the budget. If funds are not allotted, there will be a dearth of toilets,” said Supriya Sonar, who is a campaigner from one of the 30 outfits that is pursuing the issue. Sonar added that the outfits’ fight for independent urinals for women will be intensified.
Sulakshana Mahajan, a consultant with the state government-run Mumbai Transformation Support Unit (MTSU), pointed out that if a recommendation for toilets is not made now, Mumbaikars will have to wait for next the 20 years to have reservation for urinals.
“In a densely populated city like Beijing, there is one public toilet for every mile. Similar recommendations can be made in Mumbai’s revised development plan. The authorities can decide the ratio of distances, population and number of toilet blocks to be provided,” Mahajan said, adding that the MTSU is likely to write a letter to the BMC in this connection.
However, Mahajan, is against making toilet facilities free for users.
City mayor Sunil Prabhu and municipal chief Sitaram Kunte were positive about incorporating the suggestions made by the campaigners.
While Prabhu said there is a dire need to have toilets along major roads like the western and eastern express highways, Kunte said that it is an apt demand. “We will think upon it and incorporate these suggestions in the revised development plan,” he said.
A final call in this regard will be taken by state government, Prabhu added.
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