The Hindu 15.07.2009
Dhobi ghats in the city will get a makeover
Chitra V. Ramani
| BBMP’s modernisation plans will help washermen and women avoid infections and allergies |
Vyalikaval dhobi ghat to be modernised
The project is likely to be commissioned by January
Bangalore: The images of dhobi ghats in the city — of neat rows fluttering clothes, washermen and women standing all day in soapy water near huge concrete tubs, bodies rhythmically moving with the thud, thud of cotton against stone — may soon become just memories.
If the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plan goes on schedule, the washermen and women will soon be depend on washing machines than muscle power.
Pilot project
According to sources, of the 32 dhobi ghats in the old Bangalore Mahanagara Palike jurisdiction, the one at Vyalikaval will be the first to be modernised and mechanised at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh. “Such a plan has been drawn up for the first time in the country. We hope to create a model which can be extended to other dhobi ghats in the city. All modernisation plans will be carried out in the four acres and 10 gunta area of the dhobi ghat,” the official said.
Of the Rs. 60 lakh allocated for the project, Rs. 32 lakh will go towards construction of the new building, Rs. 16 lakh towards setting up of an effluent treatment plant and remaining for procurement of machinery, including industrial washing machines and boilers.
“Part of the old system will be retained. With mechanisation, the washermen will be able to clean 200 kg of clothes in 30 minutes. This will help the community earn better.”
Checking infections
The official said that one of the major advantages of modernising and mechanising the dhobi ghat was checking the spread of infections. With the effluent treatment plant, water recycling would be made possible, which would reduce water consumption.
“Earlier, the same water was being used over and over again to wash the clothes and the washermen would stand in the water for hours on end. Many washermen, especially those who were diabetic, developed infections on their feet from standing in the dirty water full of soap and chlorine.”
BBMP Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena recently visited the dhobi ghat and inspected the work that has already been taken up. “During his visit, he instructed us to construct first floor also to house the ironing unit. Around 80 per cent of the building construction has been completed. Tenders for the procurement of machinery have been floated. The project will be commissioned by January,” the official said.
The BBMP will maintain the modernised ghat for a year, during which period, members of the Madiwala community would be trained to use the machines themselves.
Along with modernisation, the BBMP will also be taking up a housing project for the 250-odd families belonging to the community at the dhobi ghat. “Around Rs. 3 crore has been earmarked for the housing project that will be taken up under JNNURM.”
