Forced to answer nature’s call in the open

The sorry state of affairs at the public toilet in the Bicholim market has forced the public to answer nature’s call in the open. 

The lethargic attitude of the municipality has left the toilet stinking due to lack of water supply and to add to it the lone toilet in the market has almost been rendered useless with its broken doors and unrepaired taps.

It may be recalled that the new municipal building and the fish market was inaugurated on October 24,  2012 at the hands of the Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza.

The toilet constructed next to the fish market functioned well till the time it was auctioned. 

Some six months after the auction the Bicholim Municipal Council took over the charge of maintaining the toilet.

“When the toilet was auctioned it was well maintained and when the same was taken over by BMC all the problems started,” said a vendor market on the condition of anonymity. “Most of the time there is no water and whenever such thing occurs they prefer to shut the gents toilet, forcing the people to urinate in the open.”

“If anyone visits the gents toilet they are faced with broken doors and unrepaired taps. The septic tank is overflowing and the BMC is not even paying any attention to this,” Satish Gimonkar, a shopkeeper says adding that “shopkeepers run in a loss as they lose customers on account of the stink emanating from the toilet.”

When contacted for his comments  on the current situation, BMC Deputy Chairman, Ajit Birje blamed the election code of conduct which is force. “The tender process already done but is delayed because of the election code of conduct in force. By March 13, everything would fall in place,” Birje added.