DEOLALI CAMP: In a letter submitted to Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rahul Gajbhiye, Deolali Cantonment Board, Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi requested the renovation of old public toilets and construction of new toilets for the families.
In Deolali Cantonment Board’s Ward no.5, almost 300 to 400 families residing in the old Stationwadi area account for a population size of 1500 residents. There’s only one public toilet assigned for this area, with four toilets reserved for males and four for females.
Already the number of toilets is too less when compared to the population. Apart from this, the toilets’ poor condition is making the situation worse for the residents. As a result, people need to defecate in open.
Due to lack of hygiene, open defecation leads to various diseases, especially diarrhea, intestinal infections. It can also lead to typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, polio, trachoma, malnutrition, and stunted growth in children.
In the previous Swachhta Abhiyaan (sanitation campaign), under the public toilets scheme, the board had sanctioned five public toilets for the old Stationwadi area, but they were only for the namesake. The wadi still awaits their construction.
The board secured fourth place in India in Swachh Survekshan 2022 and first in Maharashtra. However, residents question the board’s position as they don’t even have access to basic amenities like a toilet. The Aaghadi concluded while stating that the board needs to renovate the old public toilets and construct new toilets to keep the residents safe and healthy.
