Open defecation free Jalandhar still a distant dream, MC cites cash crunch

With the work of making city open defecation free (ODF) going on a snail’s pace, it appears like Jalandhar municipal corporation will need another four years to achieve the target.

With the work of making city open defecation free (ODF) going on a snail’s pace, it appears like Jalandhar municipal corporation will need another four years to achieve the target.

A public toilet on Ladowali road in Jalandhar. (HT Photo)

Though the civic body had claimed that 29 out of 60 wards are ODF zones in January this year, no work has been going on to improve the sanitation facilities in other areas. MC officials are citing fund crunch as one of the reasons.

The 29 wards were announced ODF before a team from Quality Council of India (QCI) under Swachh Surveskhan Survey was scheduled to visit the city. As per the data procured from the civic body’s health department , the office here has planned to construct 27 public and 13 community toilets.

The agenda for the same was passed by MC during House meeting but the project still remains a paper tiger. The estimated cost for the work was Rs 2.80 crore. Dr Shri Kishan Sharma, health officer MC, informed, “There is a provision under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for constructing public toilets but in later phases. “For now, we have to contribute for constructing public toilets,” said Sharma.

The official informed that there should be a public toilet at a distance of every 1 km. Currently, Jalandhar, with a population of around 11 lakh, has 14 public toilets and no community toilets.

Areas to get public toilets include Transport Nagar, Maqsudan near fruit market, Rainik Bazaar Chowk, Mota Singh Nagar, fish market near PAP Chowk Park, Railway Station, Civil Hospital GT road. Likewise, community toilets were planned for Bhargo Camp, Thali Wala Chowk, Main Dakoha road at Guru Ravidass Park, Ram Leela Ground near Sodal Mandir.