When it comes to public toilets in Pune, there is every reason to get pissed off!
Though they are visible at many places, their condition would be a turn-off even for the most thick-skinned. The structures themselves are dirty with a stench emanating from them which would even make the strong gutted to throw up.
Cleaning, if by chance it is done, only ensures short-term relief. Don’t expect any changes. The betel stains will still be there, adorning the place. Habitual spitting champions won’t even spare the walls. Look down at your peril.
The urinals seem have lost their virgin white colour ages ago. And don’t be surprised if you find it flooded with other people’s urine.
For those deprived of a shower, free ones are available as the roof invariably leaks. A downpour is also not unknown.
Even the exterior is not spared. Those who are impatient just spray the walls with it. There a few pay and use toilets available which are better. But you have to be lucky to find them.
So what does one do to respond to the urgent call of nature?
“I will not enter any public toilet,” says Mohan Dhawle, a resident of Kondhwa.
“They are so filthy and stink all the time. I usually go to a restaurant, order tea, and use their facility. I can hold on a bit,” he adds.
Shyam Shetty, a resident of Camp, says he usually goes to one of the malls. “At least at these malls, you get clean toilets that don’t stink. It is worth the effort to delay the urge until I get to one.”
Women also face similar problems. “I can’t even think of entering a public toilet let alone use one,” says Mona Singh, a resident of Deccan Gymkhana.
“I heard horror stories about them. If I am really desperate, I keep distracting myself until a reach a decent restaurant or a friend’s place.
“Now that mobile toilets have been introduced in the city for women, this would help in a big way. “But we need more of them at convenient locations so that we can avail of it,” she adds.
“We need co-operation from both citizens and the authorities if we need clean public toilets in the city,” Says Anil Waghmare from Kothrud.
“Mere sign boards saying ‘Keep the Toilet Clean’ is not enough. We need to educate the people who use it. “Proper attendants to clean the toilets regularly would be beneficial. Just a namesake attendant is not enough,” he adds.
Student Abhinav Apte prefers something else. “I find a deserted area and go do it there. I don’t want to catch some unknown disease from these dirty toilets,” he says.
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