Lack of toilets plague town planning office in Pune

The office of the assistant director of town planning in Narayan Peth is plagued with problems in basic infrastructure. In the absence of a separate washroom, the staff and visitors are forced to use the public toilet outside the building.

Located on the first floor of the Kalavatibai Mavale dispensary of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the office is a crucial hub for implementation of the regional plan for the district of Pune.

Looking after the implementation of the development plans (DP) for both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, this office also houses the DPs of 15 municipal councils and the regional plan (RP) for Pune district. Housing the vital maps and other documents, this office is visited by many from throughout the district to get their zone demarcations and other documents. Also in case of any change in the DPs, suggestions and objections are invited from the public in this office.

However, lack of basic infrastructure like toilets and sitting arrangements has made life very difficult for employees and citizens alike. “Lack of proper washroom is a cause of concern for us. The unhygienic public toilet that we have to use exposes us to health risks and also mosquitoes there,” said an employee on condition of anonymity.

According to senior officers, the present office has been rented out to the department by the PMC since the inception of the office early in 1960s. However, since the last few years, increase in the public has tried the infrastructure of the office to the extreme.

Sources said that repeated communications from the office regarding this problem has fallen on deaf ears.

However, the office of the director town planning, Pune, stated that both the offices of the assistant director and deputy director of town planning will be moved to the new administrative building being constructed besides the Council Hall. However, the final plans are yet to be drawn up.