BMC scraps pay and use policy for public urinals

Mumbaikars will no longer have to pay any fee to use public toilets. Due to fierce opposition from corporators, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally shelved its plans to charge fees for the use of urinals in public toilets.

In its new policy framed for municipal toilets, the civic body had proposed to charge a fee of Rs 1 for the use of urinals in these toilets. It had also proposed to hike the fee for using the latrine and bathing to Rs 5 each.

The BMC had also suggested making a monthly pass for slum dwellers for using the municipal toilets. A monthly pass worth Rs 50 was to be charged for a family of five, along with additional fee of `10 for every extra person.

So far, while the use of municipal urinals was available free of cost, while Rs 2 and Rs 3 were charged for the use of latrine and bathing respectively. The present rates, which were finalised by the ministry of medical education and drugs, have been prevalent since 2003. The new police had suggested a doubling of the rates.

However, corporators had vehemently opposed the proposal saying that it is not affordable for poor people. Even the women activists had protested the move to hike rates for using public toilets.

Taking note of strong opposition, the civic administration has finally made it clear that the new hike in toilet rates will not be applicable. “In view of corporators’ demand, we have decided not to increase the rates in public toilets,” said a senior civic official.