Team Herald
PONDA: A heated controversy erupted at Varkhandem as locals and officials of the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) clashed over claims about a missing public toilet block. The locals allege that a two-seater toilet block for men and women, reportedly constructed in 1986, had once existed on the site, while PMC records neither confirm the structure’s existence nor possess any
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related documents.
The issue came to light when a local builder applied for Town and Country Planning (TCP) permission to construct a building on the plot in question. This led to an objection by Sudesh Naik, a resident of Varkhandem, who alleged that the plot once housed a PMC-owned public toilet. In response, PMC halted the builder’s proposal and initiated an investigation to verify the claims.
To resolve the dispute, PMC officials, led by Municipal Engineer Vishant Naik, conducted a site inspection. Using a JCB machine, they excavated the area to uncover any remnants of the alleged toilet structure. However, the excavation did not reveal any clear evidence, such as foundations or structural remains, according to PMC officials.
Engineer Naik clarified, “There are no records or evidence of a toilet block in PMC’s archives, nor were any foundations discovered during the site inspection.”
Varkhandem resident Sudesh Naik, however, maintained that a public toilet had indeed existed on the site. He claimed that the original owner of the land had executed a gift deed transferring the plot to PMC for the toilet construction in 1986 to curb open defecation. He presented old photographs and copies of letters he had sent to PMC over the years, requesting repairs to the alleged collapsed structure.
Naik alleged that the toilet fell into disrepair and eventually collapsed due to neglect. He also accused PMC of losing critical records related to the facility and urged for the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the disappearance of records and reclaim the land for public use.
Naik stressed the historical significance of the toilet, stating, “At that time, most houses lacked toilet facilities, and several locals used this public convenience. It served an essential purpose in the community.”
The controversy has left the PMC under scrutiny, with locals demanding answers about the missing records. Naik suggested the PMC Chief Officer file a formal complaint to investigate the missing documentation and ensure transparency.
For now, the fate of the disputed plot hangs in the balance, as locals await PMC’s final decision on whether the site had indeed housed a public toilet and how the matter will be resolved.
