About a dozen public urinals across the State Capital appear unusually clean these days, thanks to the Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan. But the shining reality had a dirty past till the cleanliness drive was launched across the country recently on Gandhi jayanthi on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. However, despite all the cleanliness work done now, most of the urinals are still inaccessible due to filthy surroundings.
The public toilets are being maintained by private enterprises that primarily look after ensuring hygiene of toilets through regular cleaning and using disinfectant for hygienic condition for people who use the public service. The cleaning agency is provided a fee for keeping urinals in usable condition.
“There are around 11 to 12 such toilets and they are cleaned by Sulabh International,” said Public Relations Officer of Ranchi Municipal Corporation, Naresh Kumar Sinha.
But cleanliness had been once in a while affair and improved slightly during last two days due to overemphasis on cleanliness in the wake of Swachch Bharat Abhiyan. Still, the improvement is far from the level of satisfactory as shining urinals are surrounded by stinking garbage and human waste that look unwelcoming.
“They are cleaning it regularly but for the last two days only. Earlier, they used to come once in a fortnight and sometimes once in a month. But they failed to ensure cleanliness of the surrounding which is as unbearable as a stinking urinal,” said Md Manzoor Alam, a motor mechanic having shop next to the urinal near Rajendra Institute of Medial Sciences.
Urinals elsewhere like the one at Karamtoli Chowk, two urinals in Purulia Road and another one at Nagababa Khatal are in extremely pathetic condition due to garbage soaked in human waste around and RMC’s day dreaming of ‘Swachchh Ranchi’ in ‘Swachchh Bharat’ without making earnest about fulfilling the dream.
Of all public places constructed for providing people a place to answer nature’s call the one at Nagababa Khatal seems to have fallen out of the sight of enthusiasts of Swachchh Bharat. The most hated yet most flocked vegetable market is blamed for a stench that can be felt along the half the perimeter of Raj Bhawan beginning from the main gate to Kishori Yadav Chowk.
“It is very dirty. We also use it but it’s not our job to clean a place which is used by all and sundry,” frowned a vegetable seller at Nagababa Khatal. The sense of ownership of a public place and helping in maintenance is still missing among people who would use open place for their needs but instead of using dedicated places that help in keeping environment hygienic and bearable. “Although they clean it but I go to that (along the rim of Karamtoli pond) side,” said a food vendor.