the goan I network
VASCO
Attending to government matters is never a simple exercise, but people find it easier to attend to official calls than to answer nature’s calls at the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) administrative building.
This is because, the toilet facilities in the complex, which houses not just the MMC council offices but several government departments as well, are generally not available to the public and even if so, are in an unhygienic and shabby condition.
Hundreds of people who visit the MMC complex on any given day find the toilet facilities either out of bounds or in a deplorable condition and now want the MMC to have mobile toilet facilities in the complex.
“The two toilet facilities available in the basement floor are in extreme unhygienic. To make matters worse, the toilets are usually locked and keys to the toilets are with the staff of some government department in the basement and the staff are reluctant to allow locals to use the toilet facilities.”
“Another toilet facility on the first floor is at a remote end of the complex and is usually used exclusively by the MMC staff.”
Several social workers and activists have been demanding a toilet facility for the public.
Social activist Shalaka Kambli said she had written to the MMC to provide toilet facilities to the general public and had been pursuing the matter for over two years.
“Quite often, people have to wait in a line for hours to get their work done. If people want to use a washroom, they have to go to a public toilet which is far away.”
“It is an irony that the MMC has won the Swachh Bharat award, but does not have a toilet facility in the complex for the public.”
Kambli claimed that despite assurances by MMC for the last two years that the building would be renovated, nothing has happened.
“Many people are suffering and MMC should make temporary arrangements like mobile toilets. Toilets are a basic necessity and several people visit government offices on a daily basis,” said Kambli.
Added another social worker Sameer Shaikh: “Toilets in the MMC are being used only by the government staff and is always locked. Where should a common man go to answer nature’s call? Why are the MMC toilets locked and why is the MMC not installing mobile toilets in the complex? Mobile toilets can be installed under Swachh Bharat initiatives or a part of a corporate CSR. This will definitely benefit a lot of people,” said Shaikh.
MMC building to be renovated, can’t make changes now: MMC
VASCO: Claiming that the MMC building is being taken up for renovation, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said the council could not undertake any changes at this juncture.
“The MMC building is to be renovated by GSUDA and the file is still pending with the GSUDA in the final stages. I cannot do any minor or major changes or construct anything at this point in time as it will be a waste of money,” admitted Fernandes.
The chief officer claimed that day-to-day maintenance of the toilets is undertaken by the staff.
“Some people have also complained that toilets of the Mamlatdar and other offices are not clean. They are independent offices and have to undertake maintenance of toilets on their own, but they have been shifting the responsibility of maintaining the toilets on the MMC.”
“If the toilets are being used by them, then they must maintain the toilets,” said Fernandes.
