PUNE: In a bid to achieve ODF++ status, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has geared up to develop 310 model toilets in the city. A survey for ODF++ was held in the city during the month of October, during which the central team of Swachh Bharat found in the city unsatisfactory condition of toilets in the city, which had inadequate facilities and unhygienic conditions.
There are 53 criteria to be fulfilled for qualifying for ODF++ status, but the PMC didn’t qualify for the certification process.
PMC Solid Waste Management Department Deputy Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Molak said, “We were already in the ODF category, but the central team introduced the criteria to pass the ODF++ status, and the team found that toilets were unclean. We are planning to introduce this model toilet by December 15.”
Several residents complained of unhygienic toilets in the city. Kavita Dabhade, a resident of Kondhwa said, “There are two public toilets near my house, which seem to be in unhygienic condition for past one year. Does the PMC have a system to keep it clean always?” she asked.
PMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Rubal Agrawal said, “We have decided to meet the criteria set up by the central team of Swachh Bharat.”
“Accordingly we will facilitate the ramps, display boards in a radius of 500 metres giving direction to the toilet location, exhaust fans, mirrors, separate bins for different types of waste and sanitary napkin vending machine,” Agrawal said.
Just two months are left for Swachh Survekshan process to end and the PMC is doing everything to get back in the race. Molak said, “There are 310 toilets to be upgraded with better facilities which were not in the public toilets earlier.”
The team of Swachh Survekshan is expected to visit the city on January 3, 2020.
