HUBBALLI: An NGO has decided to march to the Suvarna Soudha on December 22 to highlight its demand for free public toilets in the Hubballi-Dharwad region.
The Basava Art, Technical and Recycling Museum wants to place its demand before chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.
The NGO decided to intensify its protest after civic authorities failed to address the demand of free public toilets before the winter assembly session, and Bommai also failed to address this issue.
Veerappa Arkeri, of the NGO, said this would be the first instance that an NGO has demanded free public toilets from the Chief Minister through a march as there was no other option left other than intensifying the agitation and putting pressure on Chief Minister, who is also from Hubballi.
“Along with issue of public toilets, we will highlight issues pertaining to cleaning and issues pertaining to the physically challenged. Activists from Belagavi, Dharwad and other places will join the protest, he added.
Memoranda were submitted to local civic authorities of Hubballi-Dharwad several times and to the Dharwad district administration, but nothing was done, the NGO said.
“The authorities should retain the 96 public toilets, which have been there for a long time and should keep use of urinals free. Currently they are charging Rs 2 for urinals,” he said.
He also added that many people were urinating in public places because it is not affordable to pay for it every time.
As per Section 245 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, toilets have to be made going by the population. Toilets have to be set up in case of more than 20 labourers work at the markets, cart stands, cattle stand, theatres, railway stations or other places.
However, in Hubballi-Dharwad, the rules were not followed, Arkeri said.
The Basava Art, Technical and Recycling Museum wants to place its demand before chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.
The NGO decided to intensify its protest after civic authorities failed to address the demand of free public toilets before the winter assembly session, and Bommai also failed to address this issue.
Veerappa Arkeri, of the NGO, said this would be the first instance that an NGO has demanded free public toilets from the Chief Minister through a march as there was no other option left other than intensifying the agitation and putting pressure on Chief Minister, who is also from Hubballi.
“Along with issue of public toilets, we will highlight issues pertaining to cleaning and issues pertaining to the physically challenged. Activists from Belagavi, Dharwad and other places will join the protest, he added.
Memoranda were submitted to local civic authorities of Hubballi-Dharwad several times and to the Dharwad district administration, but nothing was done, the NGO said.
“The authorities should retain the 96 public toilets, which have been there for a long time and should keep use of urinals free. Currently they are charging Rs 2 for urinals,” he said.
He also added that many people were urinating in public places because it is not affordable to pay for it every time.
As per Section 245 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, toilets have to be made going by the population. Toilets have to be set up in case of more than 20 labourers work at the markets, cart stands, cattle stand, theatres, railway stations or other places.
However, in Hubballi-Dharwad, the rules were not followed, Arkeri said.
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