Mumbai | Inaugurated, but locked: Aarey Milk Colony’s slum toilets lack water, electricity still

The lavatory at Unit 7 in Aarey Milk Colony, Goregaon East. PICS/NIMESH DAVE

While residents of Aarey Milk Colony's slum pockets and tribal hamlets have been constantly demanding public toilets due to concerns about encountering leopards while relieving themselves in the open, two 70-toilet public lavatories that were inaugurated in 2023 have not been opened to the public. Locals claim they were told that electricity and water are yet to be supplied to the buildings, raising questions as to why the facilities were inaugurated in the first place. Shiv Sena (UBT) Shakha Pramukh Sandeep Gadhave has written to the P South ward's assistant municipal commissioner, seeking answers.

The 70-toilet facility at Unit 31, which was inaugurated by BJP MLA Ameet Satam almost two years ago

"Two 70-toilet lavatories were constructed at Units 7 and 31, so that Aarey residents didn't have to go out to answer nature's call in the open. On June 18, 2023, BJP Mumbai President and three-time MLA Ashish Shelar inaugurated the facility at Unit 7, but even after two years, the toilet has not been opened for the public. This clearly shows that the local BJP leader and the corporator have fooled everyone," said Gadhave. According to the Sena (UBT) leader, the Unit 31 facility was inaugurated by BJP MLA Ameet Satam in September 2023.

The public lavatory at Unit 7 in Aarey Milk Colony, Goregaon East

"In the first place, why were the lavatories inaugurated if they were not going to be opened? Citizens have been deprived of these basic facilities for a long time. The authorities are claiming there are technical reasons for the delay, including installing water connections," said Gadhave. The Sena (UBT) leader has demanded that the matter be investigated thoroughly, and strict disciplinary action should be taken against the contractors and officials concerned.

Ex-corporator's claims

Priti Satam, the former corporator of ward number 52, said, "People in the Opposition are trying to hold me responsible for the non-operational toilets, but I have been constantly following up with the BMC [Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation]. The BMC ward office is not supplying water to the toilets. At Unit 7, local anti-social elements aren't allowing the toilets to be opened as they want the contract to run them. I have complained to the police about this. Concerning Unit 31, I told the BMC ward office to supply water to the toilets, but they have done nothing. As a public representative, I had done everything possible, and now the authorities should step in."

She further claimed credit for the lavatories' existence and said the issue shouldn't be politicised. A resident of Unit 7 told mid-day, "It has been over two years now, but the lavatory in our area is yet to be opened. When we asked officials why this was the case, they said that there was a water supply issue. Why was the facility inaugurated two years ago? We have to risk our lives answering nature's call in the open because the existing public toilet is not clean."