Public toilets non-existent for SCB residents

Trimulgherry/Bolaram: While, on one hand, the State government had been campaigning extensively for a society free of open-defecation, many citizens residing in the Cantonment areas of Secunderabad are forced to relieve themselves on walls or at garbage dumps in open spaces due to the absence of public restrooms.

Motorists especially women travelling in areas like Trimulgherry, Kharkana, Lal Bazaar, AOC Centre etc find it extremely difficult to find a neat and clean washroom or a she-toilet in the neighbourhood due to which they are left with no option but to barge into restaurants that offer the facility. However, many have complained that although many restaurants or malls are letting people use the washrooms, only a few of them are properly maintaining them.

It is an irony that while on one end areas governed by the municipal corporation have basic health and hygiene infrastructure to offer for the citizens, those governed by the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) are bereft of mere functional restrooms on the roadsides. " I work in a school at Alwal and I have to travel regularly via Trimulgherry.

So, I use the washroom at my workplace and start home. But on some unfateful days when I have the urgent need to use a restroom, I have to stop by the KFC restaurant in Kharkana. Once, when I tried to park my vehicle to go in, immediately a security guard stood right in front of me asking me to station my vehicle elsewhere.

It was very uncomfortable but what would I explain him. It is disgusting that when we can spend crores of rupees on so many projects, to put up public bathrooms seems like a herculean task for the officials." retorts Kamla, a teacher. Officials of the cantonment board were unavailable for a comment on the issue.