Residents to maintain e-toilet at Bavdhan amid civic apathy

Despite the civic body having all the means and manpower fails to take concrete measures to maintain and keep the e-toilets functional

A majority of e-toilets installed by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) remain closed due to lack of maintenance. So, residents have stepped forward to maintain e-toilets in their neighbourhood.

Krunnal Gharre, who has decided to maintain the e-toilet at Bavdhan, said it is better to run the facility at his own expense than keep it closed. (Kalpesh Nukte/HT PHOTO)

In one such case, a resident from Bavdhan has come forward showing willingness to take responsibility for maintaining the e-toilet in his area.

Krunnal Gharre, who has decided to maintain the e-toilet at Bavdhan, said it is better to run the facility at his own expense than keep it closed.

“For the past several years, the e-toilet facility has been kept closed by PMC. Several residents face inconvenience due to this. Following which I decided to take responsibility to maintain the e-toilet on my own,” he said.

Gharre said, that the PMC will give this e-toilet to be maintained for a period of three months after which they will extend the responsibility. “I have also decided to take two more e-toilets to maintain with my own expenses,” he said.

Despite the civic body having all the means and manpower fails to take concrete measures to maintain and keep the e-toilets functional.

Sandip Kadam, head, solid waste department, PMC, said, the civic body has the entire responsibility to run and maintain the e-toilets. Residents are welcome if they want to take responsibility for the e-toilets in their area.

“We have decided to give the e-toilet at Bavdhan to locals to maintain them and if the initiative is successful we are ready to give more e-toilets to residents,” he said.

Kadam further informed recently the tender to maintain five toilets has been given to a private player who has started three e-toilets and two more e-toilets will be made functional in a couple of days.

“We will evaluate the performance of this organisation and later give them the responsibility of maintaining the remaining e-toilets. The e-toilets facilities will be made free of cost for the public and PMC pay ₹7,000 per seat every month to the private player towards maintenance,” he said.