GHMC to construct 12,000 toilets

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to construct 12,000 domestic toilets, particularly in slums which are adjacent to nalas, lakes and other water bodies. In addition, the corporation would construct community toilets in all identified slums in the GHMC limits.

GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy said at a workshop here on Saturday that the corporation would not compromise on sanitation. The civic body’s budget would never be a barrier to construction of domestic toilets. The corporation would spend Rs 8,000 per unit and Rs 4,000 would be borne by the Centre.

The Commissioner said that the corporation had sought permission from the government for construction of domestic toilets in all unidentified slums.

The government had accorded permission with conditions, including that no individual claim on the encroachment can be strengthened; toilets shall not be taken as a pretext to expand the encroachments; and construction of toilets shall not spill over into the vacant lands in the locality. The corporation would soon invite tenders for at least 100 domestic toilets and the work would be finalised by the year end.

The GHMC Commissioner said that the corporation was planning to educate students and civilians regarding collection of dry and wet garbage separately. The modern public toilets (constructed at cost of Rs 5 crore), though dysfunctional for 18 months, would become operational by December, he said.

Swachh Bharat ambassador and poet Suddala Ashok Teja, actor Venu Madhav, representatives from several NGOs, zonal and deputy commissioner participated in the day-long workshop.