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PUBLIC TOILETS
IN THE CAPITAL |
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PUBLIC TOILETS
IN THE CAPITAL |
Public Toilets In The Capital By Thakur Prasad Amgai Like any other South Asian city, Kathmandu, too, lacks enough public toilets.
This is the reason why men attending to natureís call in the full view of passersí by is
a routine sight in the city. There are 24 public toilets in Kathmandu Metropolitan City
(KMC). Eight of them were constructed by Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP), under the
loan assistance from the World Bank. The rest were constructed by the KMC from its own
resources. The KMC has handed over the management of such toilets to private parties,
who charge nominal amount to users. Money thus raised are used for the maintenance of the
toilet and surrounding areas At many places around the city one can see corners wetted by urine.
Ironically, sometimes such places are just near such toilets. KMC has been conducting
awareness programmes for controlling such bad habits, but in vain. The Local Self-Governance Act 1998 has empowered KMC to fine up to Rs. 15,000
anyone who litters public places. But not a single person has been arrested or even been
warned for using open spaces as toilets. "We would catch them, but who will take the
responsibility?" a security officer of the KMC cross questioned. There are many spots in Kathmandu where there are no public toilets.
Maharajgunj, Koteshwor, Kalanki and Baneshwar are some of the places in dire need of
public toilets. KMC does not have any immediate plans for constructing more toilets.
However, negotiations is going on with an NGO working for rural sanitation, in this
regard, said Rabin Man Shrestha, an engineer at KMC. As public toilets are seen to raise quite a lot of money, the KMC would do
well by making investment in this sector. According to Shrestha, public toilets in crowded
area can earn up to Rs 700 a day. Although, there is no legal provision barring the private sector from
investing in public toilets, no one has approached the KMC with such a proposal. (Amgai is a trainee journalist) |
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