Embarking on a quest for accessible and sanitary public restrooms, GPlus ventured into the city's 'dirty truth' through a firsthand exploration. The city boasts a dense network of toilets, yet the revelation from our field trip uncovers a disheartening reality – a majority of these facilities are poorly maintained and unhygienic, posing significant challenges for residents in search of usable public toilets.
Finding a clean and well-maintained public toilet has been a perennial challenge for residents and travellers across the country. Unfortunately, in Guwahati, the sorry state of petrol pump toilets persists, casting a shadow on the city's efforts to provide hygienic facilities for the public.
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Nidhi Kakoti, a daily commuter passing by the Ganeshguri petrol pump, talking to GPlus, questioned the efficacy of declaring these toilets for public use when basic amenities like doors are missing. "I went there twice, and there are no doors in the girls' toilet," she exclaimed.
Similar sentiments were echoed by a traveller from Jorhat.
The traveller from Jorhat talking to GPlus said, "I, as a traveller from Jorhat, resonate with the concerns raised about the toilet facility near ISBT in Guwahati. The pervasive unpleasant odour, rampant spitting, and the overall lack of maintenance paint a distressing picture, rendering it an unsanitary and uncomfortable space for anyone in need."
The deteriorating conditions make it an unsanitary and uncomfortable space for anyone in need.
Nabarun Sharma, a resident of Narengi talking to GPlus said, "I want to shed light on the deteriorating state of the petrol pump near Noonmati. The prevalent issues of foul stench and negligence persist, despite assurances from petrol pump employees about regular cleaning. Unfortunately, the problem appears to worsen due to the misuse by the public."
Speaking to GPlus, another daily commuter crossing Lal Ganesh expressed consistent challenges faced at the Lal Ganesh petrol pump, including enduring foul odour and grappling with severe sanitation issues.
In 2017, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) attempted to address this problem by appointing sanitary supervisors to oversee the maintenance of petrol pump toilets within its jurisdiction. Despite these efforts, a recent visit by the GPlus team revealed a dismal state of several petrol pump toilets in Guwahati, raising serious concerns about cleanliness standards and maintenance practices.
However, when questioned, a senior official from GMC shifted responsibility, stating, "The petrol pumps are for public use. We do not look after the toilets. It is the responsibility of the petrol pump authorities."
Further inquiries revealed a bureaucratic runaround, with a senior official from Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration distancing themselves from the matter, stating it is managed by the Directorate Of Food, Civil Supplies And Consumer Affairs.
"We do not look into this matter. Apparently, it is looked after by Directorate Of Food, Civil Supplies And Consumer Affairs", the senior official from Kamrup Metro District Administration told GPlus.
Subsequently, officials from the mentioned department also passed the buck, asserting that the responsibility lies with the petrol pump owners.
Talking to GPlus, a senior official from Food, Civil Supplies And Consumer Affairs department said, "We do not look into this matter. It is responsible of the petrol pump owners".
A manager of a petrol pump located in Jyotikuchi keeps the toilets locked and only people who buy petrol there can use it.
Talking to GPlus, the manager of the petrol pump said, “Previously we used to keep the toilets open for everyone but maintenance becomes a challenge and therefore now we only allow the customers who buy petrol from us to use the toilets.”
Many other petrol pumps have toilets but they remain in pathetic condition and unmaintained.