Kozhikode: When nearly 2000 girls from around the State reached Kozhikode Bhatt road beach on Wednesday, all were spellbound by the beauty, but sadly their expressions and opinions changed shortly when they could not see a single toilet facility here. These girls were in the city on Wednesday to give the endurance test for the State Forest Guard beat officer test conducted by the Public Service Commission for the State forest department.
It is the negligence of the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) that there are no proper toilet facilities here.
The girls, who selected Kozhikode District as their centre, reached the venue at around 5 am from far off places but could not find a toilet. They hoped to use the comfort station at the side of the beach, but unfortunately the security guard refused to open it, saying the toilet was blocked. The mental and physical pressure led to some of the girls collapsing.
Meera Nair, a native of Vadakara said, “I started out at 3.30 AM from my place in order to reach here early, but I could not find any toilet facility here.” Another girl from Malappuram said that they even had to change their clothes in the open.
Meanwhile the district headquarters which announced it was a Open Defecation Free district recently encountered the shameful view of hundreds of boys, who appeared the same test here on Tuesday, answering nature’s call at the open space on the beach.
Corporation Standing Committee (Health) Chairman KV Baburaj said that the spot was under the charge of DTPC and “hence we have no right to set up toilets”. He added, “We are even ready to construct if we are permitted”, he added.
It should be mentioned that the comfort station at the main beach also is crying for attention. The lone toilet remains closed most of the time citing water shortage. In the morning hours, when hundreds of women-walkers come, they cannot use the toilet because it is closed .The e-toilet also remains closed due to lack of water.
