Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to coerce private fuel station owners to open their toilet doors to public.
The civic body in its special council meet recently passed a resolution directing more than 400 fuel station owners to allow access to their toilets free of cost to the general public.
According to the special council resolution, Government of India ranks cities under Swachh Bharat Mission on the basis of Swachh Survekshan toolkit.
“The toolkit directs fuel stations in Chennai city to provide access to toilets for the general public. Hence, it is proposed to instruct the dealers of fuel stations in Chennai Corporation to make the toilets available to public free of cost,” a corporation source said.
However, apart from passing a resolution, the civic body has not yet released proper orders to fuel stations on the issue.
Meanwhile, the owners of fuel stations criticised the Chennai Corporation’s decision and said that providing sanitation to the public is the duty of civic body.
“Fuel stations are privately owned properties. The corporation cannot order us to open our property to the public. Why not corporation direct banks, hotels and other places to allow the public to access their toilets?” M. Haider Ali, Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association, said.
Haider Ali also said that the civic body has not sent any official communication to the petrol bunk owners on the issue.
Chennai corporation fared worst during 2017 Swachh Bharat rankings since the city had secured 235th rank among 434 cities, which participated in the urban development ministry’s assessment.
City declared open-defecation free
Abiding by the rule of Swachh Bharat Mission, the city corporation has passed a resolution declaring all 200 divisions in Chennai open defecation free.
“We had passed a preliminary resolution declaring the city open defecation free earlier. With no objections from the public were received, a final resolution has been passed declaring Chennai as open defecation free,” a corporation
official said.
Chennai Corporation has sent the resolution to Swachh Bharat Mission director.
“Central government will send a team for verification and they would release final announcement,” the official added.
