Pune: Jaiprakash Nagar Residents In Yerwada Sound Alarm Over Public Toilet Sanitation And Dengue RiskÂ
Pune: Jaiprakash Nagar Residents In Yerwada Sound Alarm Over Public Toilet Sanitation And Dengue RiskÂ
Chetna Raja
Residents of S.No. 103, Jaiprakashnagar, Yerwada, have raised alarms over the poor hygiene of public toilets in their area, linking it to an increase in dengue cases. Siddharth Khunte, founder of Helping Hand, stated that the neglected state of the public toilets has led to severe health issues and called for immediate intervention by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). According to Khunte, the public toilet located at Mauli Chowk was not cleaned on July 8, 2024, resulting in standing water on the terrace that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This has led to the discovery of three dengue patients in the vicinity. Despite a series of complaints from residents, cleaning and maintenance of the toilet have not yet been undertaken by the PMC.
In a letter addressed to the PMC, Helping Hand outlined the dire conditions of the toilet, which serves the lower-class community in the area. Key issues include broken doors and windows, causing fear and anxiety among women using the facility, especially at night; disrepair of the toilet pots and tiles, with extensive gutkha and tobacco spit on the walls; a malfunctioning motor leading to a lack of water and a pervasive stench; and accumulation of excrement due to broken fixtures, creating a serious health hazard and promoting mosquito breeding. The letter emphasized that the facility has not been repaired or maintained by the PMC, and highlighted the potential risk of Zika virus and other epidemic diseases due to the unhygienic conditions.
In light of the situation, Siddharth Khunte commented, “Considering the serious health risks, the relevant agencies must take immediate measures.” Helping Hand has requested the PMC to take the following actions: immediate repair of the public toilet, appointment of a health worker for daily cleaning and maintenance, and resolution of the residents’ health issues to prevent further disease spread. Khunte and the residents of Jaiprakashnagar urge the PMC to act swiftly to address these critical hygiene and health concerns.
