BENGALURU: Newly elected councillors, at their first meeting on Monday, demanded clean and hygienic toilets in the city.
Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy, who took up the issue first, said though some toilets have been constructed by corporate companies, they are not maintained by the BBMP.
He said it is unpleasant to even walk on roads next to BBMP toilets. “We need more toilets at markets and bus stands and this should be taken up on a priority basis,” he said.
Former mayor B S Sathyanarayana said that during his term as mayor, he initiated the e-toilet concept. An e-toilet was constructed at Vidyapeeta but because the BBMP did not pay their dues, it is not functional anymore, he said.
Attiguppe councillor Raju urged the mayor to construct at least three more toilets in each ward.
Engineer-in-chief M R Venkatesh said in 2014, BBMP had given its nod for constructing 75 e-toilets at an estimated cost of Rs 5.66 lakh per toilet, which worked out to around Rs 4.24 crore.
It was also decided that the Palike will maintain pay-and-use toilets for two years. Of the 75 toilets, only 29 are functional. Construction of 10 toilets is yet to commence and civil works have not been completed in 21 places.
Venkatesh said, “We are looking for vacant spaces for 15 e-toilets. We have already paid Rs 56.06 lakh.”
The mayor, however, said there is no dearth of space and added that these toilets should be constructed as soon as possible.