Mystery of the missing BBMP toilets at JP Nagar

by April 11, 2010 Governance

In late March 2010, on a check by Citizen Matters, three BBMP toilets approved for construction way back in 2006-7 are missing and one is built and locked.

According to a response given by BBMP to a Citizen Matters RTI application of 2009, four BBMP toilets are shown as having been approved for construction in JP Nagar way back in 2006-7. They are mentioned in the BBMP ward works list.

At the cost of Rs 6.80 lakh per toilet, Rs 27.2 lakhs is the total cost for building all four. (A copy of the work order list is with Citizen Matters). In late March 2010, on a check by Citizen Matters, three of these toilets are missing (not constructed at the locations at all) and one is built and locked.

Nirmala Bengaluru toilet 9th Cross, JP Nagar. Pic CB

The missing toilets are: at 15th cross, 18th main, JP Nagar, at vegetable market, 9th block, Jayanagar and at miniforest, JP Nagar 3rd Phase.

Surprisingly, not only is a BBMP toilet missing at the JP Nagar mini forest, a private toilet constructed with donations from resident is operating here. In the meantime, Citizen Matters got a list of operating toilets from the Jayanagar ward office of BBMP at the 4th Block Shopping Complex. This list does not mention any of the toilets shown approved in 2006-7.

Instead the BBMP has pointed to a different set of six toilets. They are at: 1) 9th cross, 8th main, KSRTC Layout. 2nd phase JP Nagar. 2) 9th cross 1st phase, Sarakki Market J.P Nagar. 3) 40th cross, 1st B Main Road (Kanakapura main road) 8th Block, Jayanagar. 4) 10th Main Road, 40th cross, 5th Block, Jayanagar. 5) 18th Main Road Marenahalli Petrol Pump. 6) 34th cross, 20th Main Road.

Citizen Matters has confirmed that five are in working condition at these locations. But the 34th cross, 20th Main Road toilet has not been located yet. It is not clear what happened to the original four toilets that are mentioned in the RTI work orders of 2006-7.

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