The Hindu 22.04.2010
Corporation council to discuss ways to provide public toilets
Special Correspondent
| Ombudsman had asked Corporation to build sufficient number of toilets |
Private parties yet to come forward
Rs.50-lakh scheme to repair toilets
Kozhikode: At their meeting on Thursday, Kozhikode Corporation councillors will have to come up with a clear plan to build public urinals and toilets in the city in line with an order issued by the Ombudsman for Local Self-government Institutions that sufficient number of public toilets be set up.
The Ombudsman's order was in response to a private petition drawing attention to the problems arising out of shortage of toilets in the city for women. Corporation authorities had acted swiftly on Ombudsman's order. With the approval of the Corporation Council's finance committee, “expression of interest” was called for from private agencies on a Rs.50-lakh scheme to repair existing toilets and build new ones.
However, no one came forward to take up the scheme before the last date which was fixed at March 12. The last date has been extended to April 28.
The Ombudsman had ruled in February that it was the Corporation's responsibility to provide toilet facilities even if it could not find private agencies to build them. If it was unable to find anyone to execute the work Corporation was asked to discuss the issue at its meeting in April and take an appropriate decision.
The Council would take up the matter at its meeting on Thursday. Other matters to be discussed by the Council on Thursday include a resolution by Anil Kumar condemning Railways for not improving its services to Bengaluru, a resolution by Meladi Narayanan highlighting adverse effects that the Right to Education law would have on the State, a resolution by Pottangadi Kishenchand appealing to Kerala State Electricity Board to withdraw surcharge on electricity consumption and a resolution by H.A. Mustapha urging to Central government to drop the reported move to withdraw subsidy on Haj pilgrimage.
