J.V. Vijay Anand, project coordinator, Civic Exnora, agrees: "There is no need for community washrooms."
Even so, the public washrooms could be better. Users cite lack of water, chipped commodes, broken taps, and lack of cleanliness as problem areas. "Thousands go to the Marina but only about four toilets are in good working condition," complains the head of an NGO that has worked on various sanitation projects. The primary issue is—and this is mirrored in many cities—that councillors in Chennai’s 155 divisions control the toilets.
The biggest misuse takes place in pay-and-use toilets, with users charged well above the prescribed rates. A senior corporation official agrees that cheating and lack of maintenance are a problem. By putting out tenders for advertising rights around the toilets, the corporation seeks to use the recurring payment for maintenance. But it’s still not clear how this will stop the overcharging.
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