Owners resent gazette notification

Visakhapatnam: Stepping up the efforts aiming to maintain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status to the city for the third time, the district administration’s recent direction of allowing the public to make use of toilets at the fuel stations in the city has been raising the eyebrows of petrol bunk managements.

In this regard, the district administration released a district gazette too stating the orders come into effect from December 1. According to owners of fuel stations, issues like safety, maintenance charges and number of toilets needed have become a bone of contention regarding the implementation of orders issued by district administration.

There are 72 Motor Spirit (MS) and High-Speed Diesel (HSD) retail outlets (Petrol bunks) in the Visakhapatnam city limits. Of the 72 petrol bunks, nearly 10 outlets are not equipped with toilets. The remaining filling stations have as many as 124 toilets, on an average of either one or two at each outlet.

After conducting inspection, the assistant supply officer of circle I, II, III and IV submitted a report stating that 124 toilets existing in the fuel stations are “maintained neat and cleanly.” “Who will take the responsibility if someone smokes while using toilet,” asked an owner of petrol filling station, who requested to remain anonymous.

Expressing his concern over the maintenance charges for toilets and safety issues, he said though the intention was good, the scheme has some tricky issues that need to be addressed.

“One toilet would be used by the manager or owner. And the other one is open for staff including men and women. Apart from this, workers of nearby petty shops too have been using our toilets. Already the toilets are not being maintained properly. With this new direction, more public visits the bunk to answer the nature’s call making the issue even more problematic,” explained a boy working at bunk.

By Y Abhishek Paul