Not Smart! Building a E-Toilet First, and then Finding NO Sewage Link?

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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Not Smart! Building a E-Toilet First, and then Finding NO Sewage Link?

Mangaluru: “When You Gotta Go You Gotta Go!” – It means you have to go to the restroom/toilet really bad. And pretty soon when you are desperately looking to relieve yourself, you don’t have to go behind the bushes or the walls, instead look for the nearest one of the five e-toilets that will be commissioned soon in the city. These five e-toilets built by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) for Mangaluru City Corporation, of which two are near MCC Lalbagh Bus Stand; two at Kadri Park vicinity; and the other one which was near the Government Wenlock Hospital has now been dismantled and moved near to University College (on Railway station rd), due to sewage connection problems.

E- Toilet near Wenlock Hospital (Before)

After

This makes us to wonder, is there a project undertaken by MCC done right at the first time-NEVER? After the construction of the E-toilet near Wenlock Hospital/Hampankatta circle-the concerned authorities of MCC found out that it cannot be commissioned immediately due to an issue pertaining to linking it to the sewage network. A long portion of the concrete road would have to be cut for taking up this work. Wow-yet another poor planning by the administration. Surely digging of roads will never stop in Mangaluru, for any new project undertaken. First of all, why did they select the place near the Hospital and construct the e-toilet, before looking into sewage issue. Not “Smart” for a “Smart City?”

Removed E-toilet near Wenlock Hospital now placed near University Evening College

After waiting for such a long time whether to cut the road or not, MCC had finally decided to shift the E-toilet near Wenlock Hospital to a different location. Team Mangalorean when contacted MCC Environmental Engineer Madhu Manohar, he said, ” This E-toilet near Wenlock Hospital was kept pending due to the sewage connection problems that was realized later after the toilet was built. Since a large portion of the concrete road has to be cut to give connection to the sewage line from the E-toilet, which would cost more than the E-toilet installation, we decided to move it to a different location- And due to this issue, the other four E-toilets were not commissioned. We wanted all five E-toilets to be launched together. Very soon once the work is fully done on this E-toilet near University College, all five E-toilets will be open”.

E- Toilets near Kadri Park

Seems like the expenses incurred in setting up the E-toilet at the first time near Wenlock hospital, the hard earned money of the tax payers has been flushed down the toilet? Sources reveal that the public sector oil company, HPCL has built these e-toilets under its corporate social responsibility. These five e-toilets have been provided with water, electricity facility and linked to the sewage network. It is learnt that HPCL has spent Rs 30 lakh on this project, each e-toilet costing Rs 6 lakh. These five toilets would be commissioned soon, once the work on the fifth e-toilet is completed.. Anyone wanting to use the e-toilet facility could enter it by inserting Re 1 coin and also coins of other denomination. The unmanned toilet has automatic flushing and sanitizing facility. When a user enters the e-toilet, lights and the exhaust fan will switch on automatically and go off once the user leaves the toilet. Hand wash facility is also available inside it.

HPCL would hand over these e-toilets to the civic body after they are commissioned, and they will have to be maintained by the Mangaluru City Corporation. It is learnt that HPCL will continue to associate with the civic body this year too, and may build more public toilets or any other project as suggested by the MCC. Mangaluru selected under smart city mission of the Union government hitherto lacked e-toilets. Even as the city’s first four public e-toilets built by HPCL are ready for inauguration, the civic body which had proposed to build eight more public e-toiletsgot the approval last week in the corporation council meeting- the eight e-toilets will be at Light House Hill, Light House Hill, Kaprigudda, Valencia Junction, Surathkal Junction, Surathkal Market and at Pakkaladkka (two toilets).

But as per the report in a National daily newspaper, the corporation had earlier proposed to construct 24 public toilets (not e-toilets) but unfortunately faced a few administrative hurdles. MCC had proposed to build them under design, build, operate and transfer (DBOT) mode and had invited bids. Accordingly, those who built them would have to manage the toilets for 15 years. In response to the tender, four bidders had come forward to take up the work of building the nine toilets. But the MCC council rejected it on the grounds that the civic body could go ahead only if it received bids for constructing all 24 toilets. In the meantime, the Directorate of Municipal Administration has informed the corporation that if it would have to allow the bidder to manage it for 15 years, it should obtain the permission of the government as now the corporation could allow the bidder to manage it only for five years. MCC is in the process of getting permission from the government.

E- Toilets near MCC-Lalbagh

In conclusion, five e-toilets for the entire city of Mangaluru- how will that be helpful is something that should be looked at. With one e-toilet installed near University College, imagine thousands of passengers alighting at Mangaluru Central station and walking towards the city, and want to use this toilet very badly- just wondering how big the queue will be to enter this “lonely” e-toilet. Also there are chances that toilet users may misuse the service- like one can go into the e-toilet by inserting a coin, but the person behind him or her can hold the door by not allowing it to shut, so once the first person comes out, he/she can go in without dropping the coin in the slot. Free service? Wishing the e-toilet all success, let’s have “Swachh Toilets” for a better “Swachh Mangaluru”!

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