Almost all the electronic toilets, set up by the Corporation with a lot of fanfare to improve toilet facilities in the city, have are either faulty or unfit for use.
This was found during a joint inspection carried out on Friday by representatives of Kozhikode Corporation, the NGO Sthree Chetana, and Eram Scientific Solution , the company which set up the facility.
The e-toilets were established on an order issued by the Ombudsman for Local Bodies on a petition filed by Dr K.S. Jayasree, general secretary-Sthree Chetana, in 2010 seeking Ombudsman’s intervention to solve the problems facing visitors to the city, particularly working women, due to lack of enough public toilets.
Following the Ombudsman’s directive, Kozhikode Corporation set up 15 e-toilets — two each at stadium, Muthklakulam, and Devagiri, and one each at lorry stand, near headpost office, Oyitty Road, Pavangad, Karaparamba, medical college, Cheruvannur, Beypore, and Beach. Eight toilets has napkin vending facilities.
In Friday’s inspection, as many as 13 of the 15 e-toiletss were found to be unfit for use. Miscreants had damaged the toilets, according to Sthree Chetana members.
After the inspection, it was announced that the toilets at Muthalakulam and Devagiri would be repaired within two weeks. Corporation authorities had also taken action to ensure steady water supply to these toilets, Ms. Jayasree said.
