Half of city’s public toilets shut

High expenditure blamed for discontinuation of facility in past two years

LAHORE:

Despite the population of the provincial capital increasing to about 15 million, the number of public toilets operating in the city has dropped in recent years.

The metropolitan corporation has failed to build new public toilets, while 12 out of the 25 facilities present earlier have been closed during the past two years because of high expenses. The population of Lahore is estimated to have risen to about 15 million, of whom about three million travel in the city daily.

The local bodies across Punjab have a responsibility to provide municipal services to the residents in addition to collecting taxes. However, no new project has been launched in the past two years by the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore to provide facilities to the citizens after the abolition of the previous local body system in the city.

According to civic affairs experts, the number of public toilets in the city should have been doubled during the period in view of the increasing population and number of regular commuters. In addition, a large number of people arrive in the city daily from all over the country for various reasons.

However, as many as 12 of the 25 public toilets in Lahore have been closed due to the burden on the public exchequer caused by their high expenditure and low income.

The government subsidises public service sectors such as Rs8 billion for Ramazan Bazaars and more than Rs3.5 billion in the budget for the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA). The Orange Line train also continues to receive a monthly subsidy of millions of rupees.

The public toilets shut down due to high expenses were located at Fatehgarh, Mian Mir Darbar, Money Market Samanabad, Dial House, Main Market Samanabad, Garhi Shahu, Nolakha Chowk Railway Station, Barkat Market Garden Town, Moon Market Gulshan Ravi, GTS Lorry Ada, Muslim Chowk Green Town and Qadri Chowk Green Town.

The metropolitan corporation is currently operating 13 public toilets. According to officials, five of them are doing well financially at Moon Market Iqbal Town, Regal Chowk, Ichhra, Karim Block and Lorry Ada and four are operating satisfactorily.

However, the shutting down of four other facilities has been recommended because of low income, including those at Fruit Mandi Ravi Road, Dispensary Lorry Ada and Truck Ada I and II.

If the recommendation is implemented, the number of public toilets shut down by the authorities in the city would reach 16.

The condition of the facility in other cities of Punjab is reported to be worse. On the other hand, the facility of public toilet is provided free of charge to the citizens in most parts of India’s capital New Delhi.

A commuter said while speaking to The Express Tribune that millions of people go out of their homes in the city daily for work, education, trade and other purposes and public toilet was an essential facility for them. “There are not enough public toilets in the city. The ones that are available are so dirty that it is difficult to use them. The number of public toilets should be increased and they should be better maintained,” he added.

When contacted, Lahore Commissioner Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman said it was unfortunate that there was a shortage of public toilets in the city due to lack of work in the field.

“We are not only increasing the number of public toilets throughout the city, but will also improve the condition of the existing ones,” he said, adding that Instructions had been issued to the officials concerned in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2021.