Finding a place to re
spond to the call of
nature is a challenging task in many parts of Shillong due to the lack of public toilets.
The city so far has very little facilities to cater to the needs of the people who are often seen relieving themselves in full public view.
The lack of public toilets also gives a tough time to tourists who are not aware of the few public toilets which are constructed only in certain parts of the city.
A tourist was seen recently near the Police Bazaar frantically searching for a place to respond to his urgencies.
The Urban Affairs department has also taken strong cognizance of the lack of toilets in the busiest areas of city and the department is coming up with a public toilet in Keating Road and as well as in Police Bazar near the petrol pump.
Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh informed that the department is coming out with a public toilet even in Gora Lane and few more areas in the city are being identified to construct the toilets.
“We are losing out on the civic sense responsibility and we need to look into it seriously,” she added.
It may be mentioned that ladies are the worst affected for want of toilet facilities and the residents feel that there is a need for setting up of more public toilets in prominent areas of the city.
Another problem which hinders the Government intend of constructing toilets is the acquisition of land as the land in the state does not belonged to the Government and it has to be acquired.
There is a lack of public toilets exist largely even in the national highways which pass through the heart of the city as hardly any toilets exists on the National Highway. Though complaints have been raised, a lot remains to be done in this regard.
The Urban Affairs department however has plans to construct pay and use toilets near Mahavira Park in Jhalupara and even in Mawiong for catering to the need of such long distance travellers.
According to Lyngdoh, the funds have been sanctioned for the purpose of constructing toilets and the department will have a meeting on October 13 with Hindusta Private Limited to discuss the issue of lack of toilets besides other issues.
(By Aafaque Hussain)