MAPUSA
The lack of public toilets in the Mapusa municipal market and the inability to maintain the existing one has put the Mapusa Municipal Council in a bad light. People complained that there were far less public toilets in the sprawling market of Mapusa and the ones that were there were not functioning properly.
There were also allegations that the contractor who was maintaining one of the toilets was also overcharging the people.
People from all over the State and even foreigners flock to the market, particularly on Fridays, the market day in Mapusa.
The huge municipal market has only three public toilets out of which only two “ near the new beef and pork market and one near the madka bazaar “ are functioning. The third one near the Shantadurga hotel has been out of order for the last couple of years.
The members of the Mapusa Merchants’ Association (MMA) recently brought to the attention of the civic body that the contractor who is incharge of the toilet near the Madka Bazzar was overcharging the public.
They said that the contractor has been charging a new rate of Rs 5 for urinal and Rs 10 for using the toilet instead of Rs 2 and Rs 5 which was charged earlier.
“The toilet is not maintained properly and is always dirty. Many times the toilet remains closed due to unavailability of water supply. If the contractor is unable to provide good service then how can he hike the rate?” asked Pandurang Sawant, a member of MMA.
The MMA further informed that they had received several complaints from locals and tourists about overcharging by the contractor.
Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Priya Mishal said that the toilet near the Shantadurga Hotel has already been tendered and the contractor had also come out with a plan to construct the loo.
“The work got stuck because the MMC engineers had recommended some changes in the construction plan. We will expedite the matter,” Mishal said.
She also assured to look into the complaints of overcharging by the contractor who looks after the toilet in Madka Bazzar.
